What is Religious Studies?
Religious Studies examines the history and the nature of belief. It helps pupils to consider questions of meaning and purpose in life, and to address questions about the nature of values in human society. Students are provided with the information and strategies to make informed judgements about moral and religious issues. By studying the way religion engenders a sense of identity, students begin to develop their own sense of identity and belonging, preparing them for life as citizens in a pluralistic society.
Your child will:
Become familiar with a wide range of beliefs and practices, both in their own society and in the wider world.
Gain confidence through expressing their own beliefs and feelings, and actively listening to those of others.
Recognise that the familiar and known can allow us to understand the unfamiliar and unknown – seeing our own experiences as the foundation of understanding those of others.
Be encouraged to respond creatively and imaginatively to religious ideas – seeing religion as a source of wonder and inspiration rather than a list of rules and rituals.
What will your child study?
Year 7
Quaker faith and practice – what did George Fox and other prominent Quakers believe in? What does Quakerism stand for? Why is the peace testimony so important to Quakers?
Heroes of faith – pupils learn about people of different religions who have been inspired by faith to make it a better world. Among those studied are Archbishop Oscar Romero (Roman Catholic), Mahatma Gandhi (Hindu), The Dalai Lama (Buddhist) and Martin Luther King (Baptist).
Years 8 and 9
The six major religions of the world are covered – one each term in the following order:
1. Hinduism 4. Islam
2. Buddhism 5. Judaism
3. Sikhism 6. Christianity
The approach to these faiths continues to be as enquiring, experience-based and practical as the first year’s programme.
How Will Your Child Be Assessed?
Your child’s classwork and homework will be regularly assessed.
Your child will be told how their work can be improved, if necessary.
Positive effort and involvement will be praised and rewarded with verbal praise and/or merits given.
Work set for your child will be differentiated:
By providing extension tasks where appropriate.
By using a variety of teaching methods, concentrating on active involvement of pupils.
By providing differentiated tasks where appropriate.
By making use of LSA support in the classroom where it has been allocated.
Homework is set once every two weeks in order to:
Reinforce and extend tasks begun in class.
Research topics in greater depth or detail.
What activities will your child take part in?
Your child’s learning of Religious Studies will be enriched by visits to places of worship and speakers from different faith backgrounds.
Creative work such as drama, role play, poetry, artwork, musical improvisation and craft projects are incorporated into lessons whenever possible, to encourage an active style of learning and to foster the ability to work as part of a team.
