Our Religious Studies Curriculum has been designed to explore religious and non -religious traditions that have shaped Great Britain and enable pupils to take their place within a diverse multi-religious, cultural, and multi-secular society. We wish to give young people the opportunity to see, discuss and explore religion and non-religion in the world and allow students the opportunity to make sense of their own place in this world. Our curriculum is built around big questions, academic rigour, and opportunities to see the world through different lenses. Our intention is that students can hold balanced, well-informed conversations as well as asking deep and searching questions. This curriculum supports the personal development curriculum positively.
Topics covered in Religious Education are detailed below
| Unit 1: What does it mean to worship as a Christain? | In this topic we will explore how Christian’s worship and whether all Christians worship in the same way. We will ask questions such as if you do not worship are you still a Christian? We will explore why people gain and lose faith in their personal journeys. |
| Unit 2: Does Buddhism help to overcome suffering and live a better life? | In this topic we will look at an eastern religion and investigate the beliefs and texts, exploring both meaning and practices. We then explore how Buddhists may try to lead a better life, asking questions around this. We then think about what it would be like to be a practising Buddhist going to school in Britain. |
| Unit 3: What does it mean to be a Muslim in modern Britain? | This topic builds upon the previous topics and explores beliefs and practices. We will then look more globally at a faith and explore whether being part of a faith is the same across the world, broadening the lens of exploration for young people. |
| Unit 1: How did we get here and where are we going? | In this topic students will explore key beliefs about God including alternative viewpoints. Students will debate and explore how the world began and look at scientific viewpoints. Students will also look at ideas of the afterlife and be able to offer their own viewpoints. |
| Unit 2: Does the world need war? | In this unit students will see what different religions say about conflict in the world exploring how conflict is presented in holy texts. Students will explore whether war is ever just using examples. Alternatives to war such as Pacifism will be investigated, and students will be able to evaluate their learning to offer their own viewpoint of the justification of conflict in the world. |
| Unit 3: Do we live in an equal society? | This topic looks at what we mean by rights and responsibilities and then looks at rights in society today. Students will then explore what different faiths teach about wealth and inequality. Building further, students will have a discourse about the responsibilities we have in terms of helping others, evaluating different ideas. |
| Unit 1: Does everyone have the same right? | In this unit we will start to consider how we know we are making the right choices in life. We will then debate topical issues such as should animals have rights. How should people be punished if wrong is done? Is it ever right to end a life? Underpinning this unit will be contemporary case studies and varied viewpoints to challenge and generate questioning and critical thinking. |
| Unit 2: Can we all get on? | In this topic we are going to spotlight and explore tolerance. We will look at issues such as how people of different faiths get on, equality between men and women and crucially, exploring why there are such extremes of views in society. This topic will generate a range of insights into the society that we live in and offer lots of opportunities to debate and question. |
| Unit 3: What does it mean to be a part of a faith in the 21st Century? | In the final topic of Year 9 students will use case studies as a vehicle of exploring contemporary society and belief systems. Will explore relationships and what they look like in modern society. We will look at abuse within relationships and the experiences people may have, positive and negative. We will explore stereotyping and prejudice that people of faith may experience; exploring origins of these ideas, misconceptions about dress, practices, and beliefs and how this can impact on society. We will then finish this topic by looking at how beliefs and practices can help people in contemporary society. Students will be able to share and explore a range of experiences through case studies in this unit. |
| Topic: Christian Beliefs and Teachings – AQA Unit 1 | This topic involves an in-depth study of key Christian beliefs and teachings as well as Christian sources of wisdom and moral authority. This includes considering how beliefs influence the life of a Christian today as well as exploring and evaluating key questions that arise from different Christian beliefs. |
| Topic: Buddhist Beliefs and Teachings – AQA Unit 1 | Content of this topic includes beliefs about God, Creation, the Trinity as well as the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. The topic also explore concepts concerning sin, salvation, atonement, life after death and the problem of evil and suffering. |
| Topic: Relationships and Families – AQA Unit 2 | This topic involves an in-depth study of key Buddhist beliefs and teachings as well as Buddhist sources of wisdom and moral authority. This includes considering how beliefs influence the life of a Buddhist today as well as exploring and evaluating key questions that arise from different Buddhist beliefs. |
| Topic: Religion and Life – AQA Unit 2 | Content of this topic includes beliefs about who the Buddha was, exploring his life and key Buddhist teachings e.g. enlightenment, the 3 marks of Existence, the 4 noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. The topic also explores Buddhist philosophical concepts regarding the nature of life and existence, as well as different Buddhist denominations. |
| Topic: Christian Practices – AQA Unit 1 | This topic involves an in-depth study of moral and ethical issues concerning relationships and families and their impact and influence in the modern world. Content of this topic includes exploring similar and different religious and non-religious views on homosexual relationships, contraception, cohabitation, divorce and marriage, the nature/purpose of the family, and issue concerning gender discrimination and equality. The topic will also explore and evaluate key questions that arise from the issues studied. |
| Topic: Christian Practises | |
| Topic: Buddhist Practices – AQA Unit 1 | This topic involves an in-depth study of key Buddhist practices as well as Buddhist sources of wisdom and moral authority. This includes examining different ways Buddhists will practice their faith and the reasons why they do this, exploring their importance, as well as evaluating key questions that arise from different Buddhist practices. |
| Topic: Religion Peace and Conflict – AQA Unit 2 | Content of this topic includes examining different places and ways of worship, meditation, rituals, festivals and how Buddhists put their faith in action e.g. helping others and the 5 Moral Precepts. |
| Topic: Crime and Punishment – AQA Unit 2 | This topic involves an in-depth study of moral and ethical issues concerning peace and conflict, and its impact and influence in the modern world. Content of this topic includes exploring similar and different religious and non-religious views on violent protest, terrorism, reasons for war, weapons of mass destruction, pacifism and the Just War Theory. The topic will also explore and evaluate key questions that arise from the issues studied. |
| GCSE Revision | This topic involves an in-depth study of moral and ethical issues concerning crime and punishment and its impact and influence in the modern world. Content of this topic includes exploring similar and different religious and non-religious views on reasons for crime, law and order, the aims of punishment, the different types of punishment (community service, prison, death penalty) and issues concerning forgiveness and suffering. The topic will also explore and evaluate key questions that arise from the issues studied. |
Key Stage 3 & 4 Learning Journey
Attitude To Learning Statements
Key Stage 3 Curriculum Descriptors
For more information about Religious Education in the Curriculum contact Harvey Kaur Email hkaur@roundhill.bepschools.org
