Religious Studies
All students begin by learning what religion and faith mean and some of the reasons why people may have faith. The rest of the programme is focused on four main religions of the world, alongside an introduction to some of the ethical and moral issues in modern society. We aim to extend and deepen students’ knowledge and understanding of faith and religion, and to encourage them to ask questions and explore ideas.
Year 7
Students focus on Christianity: the church; the teachings of the Holy Bible and Jesus Christ; Christian festivals and celebrations. We learn about the traditions and customs of the religion and we use Oculus Rift virtual reality to give students the experience of being inside a church. We also complete a range of arts and crafts activities and celebrate a Christian festival such as Christmas or Easter.
Year 8
Students focus on Islam: the mosque; the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and Muhammad; festivals and celebrations. We learn about the traditions and customs of the religion and we use Oculus Rift virtual reality to give students the experience of being inside a mosque. We also complete a range of arts and crafts activities and celebrate the festival of Eid.
Year 9
Students focus on Sikhism: the Gurdwara; the teachings of the Gurus; Sikh festivals and celebrations. We learn about the traditions and customs of the religion and we complete a range of arts and crafts activities and celebrate the festival of Diwali.
Year 10
Students focus on Judaism: the synagogue; the Ten Commandments and the story of Abraham; Jewish festivals and celebrations. We learn about the traditions and customs of the religion and we use Oculus Rift virtual reality to give students the experience of being inside a synagogue. We also complete a range of arts and crafts activities and celebrate the festival of Hanukkah.
Year 11
Students discuss the place of religion in modern society, look at a specific ethical dilemma and the religious responses to that question, and then consider a case study.
