RS in Years 10 and 11.

Specification = WJEC 0206 Short Course RELIGIOUS STUDIES

By Year 10 students will already be familiar with the basic ideas and traditions of the six world religions.

The GCSE short course in Religious Studies takes a fresh look at this subject, examining just two religions in greater depth. In this way we are able to examine the ways in which religious belief helps people to make sense of the big issues in their lives.

As society continually evolves, and science and technology forge ahead with "miracle cures" for medical and social problems, many people are left wondering what is right and wrong. How can we decide for ourselves in the "moral maze"? Examining the views of religious thinkers, both past and present, gives students a starting point for making up their own minds.

In this course, students' understanding of religion is challenged and extended as we look at some of the different responses to life-and-death issues of our time - abortion, euthanasia, animal experimentation, cloning, artificial reproduction, and so on, exploring the religious and moral dimension of these difficult and complex subjects. There is no attempt to promote one view as right or better than another - the aim is to encourage students to look at the evidence and evaluate these ideas for themselves.

The exam paper is marked according to:

1. Students' knowledge and understanding of the two religious traditions studied
2. Students' ability to demonstrate knowledge and appreciation of different points of view.

This means that the course combines these two elements, involving some learning of appropriate facts and vocabulary, such as the sacred books and special festivals of the two religions, and also using class discussions to practise expressing and listening to different viewpoints.

Full course GCSE WJEC 020602

Students also have the option of taking an additional paper which upgrades the exam into a full course. This involves additional study, covering the same topics but at a deeper level.