Religious Studies
Context
Religious Studies explores issues of faith and belief, both religious and non-religious, and encourages respect for the cultural and life experiences of others. It allows pupils to examine their own beliefs by asking questions about the meaning and purpose of life, issues of right and wrong, and what it means to be human. Religious Studies also helps pupils to challenge prejudice and to operate as citizens in a diverse society.
The Religious Studies curriculum broadly follows the Tameside Agreed Syllabus, adapted to suit the needs of our pupils. We mainly study Christianity and Islam and also cover non-religious worldviews and other faiths where appropriate in a variety of units throughout the KS3 curriculum. At GCSE we follow the Edexcel Religious Studies (B) course, “Faith in Action” from the perspectives of Christianity and Islam, which meets the needs of our learners and enables them to engage with challenging moral issues whilst improving their understanding of religion in Britain today.
CURRICULUM
The RS curriculum is designed so that pupils can extend and deepen their secure knowledge and understanding of key features of religion and worldviews. We aim to provide a framework of understanding that will support our pupils to become well informed, curious members of society, with the skills to learn more about topics that interest them and the ability to challenge misconceptions when they come across them.
Pupils begin by studying sources of authority for Christians and Muslims, followed by a brief introduction to Sikhi. We then undertake an in-depth study into the Historical Jesus and finish with an exploration of the balance between the importance of charity and places of worship in religion, with a variety of religions studied. Pupils continue to explore the religious context of Tameside and look at the benefits and challenges of following a faith. We then look at pilgrimage, including an in-depth study of the Hajj. Pupils are also given the opportunity to participate in the Spirited Arts competition organized annually by NATRE. Pupils then explore Buddhist Dharma as an example of a non-theistic world-view in the third term.
In Year 9, pupils begin by studying Peace and Conflict, exploring how religious belief and practice can promote peace in the world. We then investigate religious, and non-religious, attitudes towards issues of Medical Ethics, including topics such as fertility treatment, genetic engineering and transplant surgery. Finally, we complete a unit of Philosophy & Ultimate Questions, encouraging deeper thinking for pupils and an exploration of their own ideas before finishing the year by studying a unit about religious experience, where we look at issues of faith and doubt and how religious experiences can support belief in God.
At GCSE Pupils study Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B Beliefs in Action. This consists of:
- Paper 1B – Christian Beliefs, Marriage and Family Life, Living the Christian Life, Matters of Life and Death.
- Paper 2C – Muslim Beliefs, Crime and Punishment, Living the Muslim Life, Peace and Conflict
In conclusion, we balance the learning of substantive knowledge with an understanding of how this relates to pupils' own lives. Above all, we aim to equip the girls with the skills they need to examine their own, and other people’s worldviews, and to see the value in both the spiritual and the human experiences of life.
