Curriculum: Religious Studies - Sir Jonathan North Community College

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Religious Studies

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Members of Staff and Roles/Responsibilities
Subject Overview
KS3 Structure
KS3 Content
KS4 Structure
KS4 Content
Additional Information
Spirited Arts Slideshow

Members of Staff and Roles/Responsibilities

Mrs J Duce	Head of RS and Citizenship
Mr S Barnes	Teacher of RS, Sociology and Year Team Leader

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Religious Studies Overview

Religious Studies provokes challenging questions about the ultimate meaning and purpose of life, beliefs about God, the self and the nature of reality. It explores issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human. It develops pupils’ knowledge and understanding of Christianity, and other principal religions, traditions and world views that offer answers to these challenging questions. It offers opportunities for personal reflection and spiritual development. It enhances pupils’ awareness and understanding of religions and beliefs, teachings, practices and forms of expression, as well as of the influence of religion on individuals, families, communities and cultures.
RS encourages pupils to learn from different religions, beliefs, values and traditions, while exploring their own beliefs and questions of meaning. It challenges pupils to reflect on, consider, analyse, interpret and evaluate issues of truth, belief, faith and ethics and to communicate their responses.

RS encourages pupils to develop their sense of identity and belonging. It enables them to flourish individually within their communities and as citizens in a diverse society and global community. RS has an important role in preparing pupils for adult life, employment and lifelong learning. It enables pupils to develop respect for and sensitivity to others, in particular those whose faiths and beliefs are different from their own. It promotes discernment and enables pupils to combat prejudice.

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KS3 Structure

At the start of the autumn term in year 7, students are taught in mixed ability tutor group classes. Towards the end of the first half-term students will take a formal assessment. The result will determine in which Set they will be placed for all the Humanities subjects. Students will be taught in their new Set from the October half-term onwards.
This continues in years 8 and 9.

Assessment is by formal tests and assessment tasks at the end of each unit.

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KS3 Content

Students follow the Leicester Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education and study topics about:

Religion in Leicester
Beginnings
Our World
Judaism
The Miracle Maker
Christianity
Spirited Arts
Islam
Hinduism
Sikhism
Religion and Science
Religion and Art
New Religious Movements
Buddhism
Non-religious life stances

Students use a wide range of resources including text books, worksheets, ICT and web based resources.

During the course students will be given the opportunity to learn about and learn from religion. This includes discussing their beliefs and opinions and developing the skill of listening to others in order to build a more tolerant society.

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KS4 Structure

In KS4 students will have the opportunity to follow a GCSE course in Religious Studies. This will either be in the form of a full or short GCSE course. At present students follow the two year Edexcel GCSE full course Religion and Life and Society. This is a linear course with examination at the end of year 11. The current year 11 will also complete two pieces of coursework which will account for 20% of their final mark. Those students following the GCSE short course will take their exam at the end of year 11. They also follow a course provided by Edexcel called Religion and Society which has strong links with Citizenship.

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KS4 Content

GCSE Full Course Religious Studies

Religion in Life	Religion and Society
1. Belief in God 2. Matters of Life and Death 3. Religion and Social Harmony 4. Relationships and the Family	1. Religion and Social Responsibility 2. The Environment 3. Peace and Conflict 4. Crime and Justice