Religious Studies

Religious Studies enables students to develop skills for the future including open mindedness, respect and most importantly self-awareness through asking questions of both religious and philosophical beliefs and communities. We encourage students to develop their sense of identity and belonging to enable them to flourish individually within their communities and as citizens in a multi-faith and multi-cultural society and global community.

Key Stage 3 Curriculum information

Years 7 and 8
Religious Studies lessons in Years 7 and 8 explore beliefs and values within our community and the wider world. Students study Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism and Judaism with a view to encouraging them to learn from different religions, beliefs, values and traditions while exploring their own beliefs and questions of meaning.

Year 9
In Year 9 students are given the opportunity to take Religious Studies as an option. They are introduced to philosophical and ethical questions in preparation for GCSE, including:

• Philosophy and an investigation into ideas of reality in ‘The Truman Show’ and comparing and contrasting it to Plato’s Allegory of the Cave
• Looking for meaning by examining atheist alternatives to religion including Humanist values and beliefs
• GCSE introduction units on Religion and Drugs and Medical Ethics
• Examining the motivation for people to become social changers by studying the film ‘Suffragette’

Key Stage 4 Curriculum information

AQA GCSE Religious, philosophical and ethical studies focusses on beliefs and practices of Christianity, the main religion in the UK and compares and contrasts it to that of Buddhists. There are two modules of study, the first:

• Buddhism Beliefs and Teachings and Practices
• Christianity Beliefs, Teachings and Practices

and the second module, Ethical Studies in Christianity and Buddhism comprising:

• Theme 1: Relationships and Families
• Theme 2: Religion and Life
• Theme 4: Religion, Peace and Conflict
• Theme 5: Religion Crime and Punishment

Careers in Religious Studies

Learning skills like critical thinking, evaluating different perspectives, communication, presentation, and independent learning, lead to many varied job opportunities. Some of these include:

Public Sector - Doctor, Nurse, MP, Civil Servant, Social Worker; Teacher.
Law - Solicitor, Police Officer, Magistrate; Barrister.
Hospitality and Tourism - Pilot, Steward; Restauranteur, Hotel Manager, Travel Agent, Tour Guide.
Publishing and Media - Journalist, Writer, Editor.
Education including Teacher, Lecturer and Administration.