Religious Education at Sandbach School

The Aims of Religious Education

To enable pupils to learn about religious beliefs and practices in order that they may

understand the significance of religion and appreciate the distinctive nature of faith communities.

To enable pupils to develop their own responses to questions about the meaning of life.

To encourage pupil to respect self, others and the natural world.

To encourage mutual understanding in a multi-faith society

Objectives of Religious Education 

BELIEFS AND PRACTICES
Pupils should develop a knowledge and understanding of Religious beliefs and practices. They should develop a sensitivity to the beliefs, customs and experiences of others.

KEY QUESTIONS
Pupils should develop an awareness of key questions about meaning and purpose in life. They should learn to reflect upon and evaluate and respond to the answers which religions give.

APPROACHES TO LIFE

Pupils should develop an understanding of how their beliefs, attitudes and values influence their behaviour and world view. They should learn to assess the effects of Religious commitment upon individuals, communities and nations.

Religious Education Department Staff and Contacts

The department consists of the following full-time members of staff:

Mr E O Davies – Curriculum Leader of Religious Education

Mrs K. Hibbert – Teacher of Religious Education

Why is RE important?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/schools/keep-the-faith-why-religious-education-is-booming-769322.html

Religious education makes a distinctive contribution to a school curriculum which:

• promotes the spiritual, moral, social, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils and of society; and
• prepares pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.

RE encourages pupils to learn from different religions, beliefs, values and traditions, while exploring their own beliefs and questions of meaning.

RE contributes to pupils’ personal development and well-being and to community cohesion by promoting mutual respect and tolerance in a diverse society.

RE can also make important contributions to other parts of the school curriculum such as citizenship, personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education, the humanities and the arts, education for sustainable development.

Extra-curricular opportunities in Religious  Education

Visits to places of worship

A visit to  a place   of worship is offered annually to  students  in Year  Seven.

The Gideon/s organisation visits Year 7 classes on an annual basis

The students   are able to   speak to people who hold a religious faith and ask a range of  questions.

Some of the skills  that can  be developed through the study of RE
Critical thinking
Discussion
Analysis
Evaluation
Self–awareness

Religious  Studies and Future Careers

Religious Studies is useful in many different careers.

Law
Medicine
Social work
Journalist
Charity officer
Teacher/lecturer
Police

Course Structure / KS 3 Programme of Study

Year 7

The course is divided into 6 units:

Introduction – What is Religion ?

(Note pupils may not follow this specification in the order below)

Unit 1   Holy Books

Unit 2   Key questions

Unit 3   Light as a Symbol

Unit 4   Stories

Unit 5   Places of Worship

Unit 6   Religion and Commitment

Year 8

The course is divided into 6 units:

(Note pupils may not follow this specification in the order below)

Unit 1   Qualities

Unit 2   Jesus

Unit 3   Worship

Unit 4   Festivals

Unit 5   Pilgrimage

Unit 6   Rites of Passage

Year 9

The course is divided into 8 units.

(Note pupils may not follow this specification in the order below)

Unit 1    Religion and Life: Animal Rights

Unit 2    Religion and Life: War and Peace

Unit 3    Hinduism

Unit 4    Religion and  Life: Equality

Unit 5    Buddhism

Unit 6     Religion and Life: The Sanctity of Life

Unit 7     Religion and the Media

Unit 8     Bridging Course Preparing for GCSE

GCSE RELIGIOUS STUDIES

AQA Religious Studies

Specification B Ethics Philosophy and Religion in Society, Short Course 4056

Introduction

In this course students will be able to:

• Gain a GCSE qualification.
• Study and consider some of the major moral issues in modern life.
• Begin to understand how and why religious faith affects a person’s moral choice.
• Have an opportunity to examine their beliefs and the beliefs of others.
• Discuss questions about the meaning and purpose of life.

By the end of the course students will specifically be able to show knowledge of the belief attitudes and practices of Christianity.

Course Structure

The course consists of the study of Christianity, Philosophy and Applied Ethics.

Unit 3 Religion and Morality

The areas of study contain the following:

Topic 1 Religious Attitudes to Matters of Life (Medical Ethics)

Topic 2 Religious Attitudes to the Elderly and Death

Topic 4 Religious Attitudes to Crime and Punishment

Topic 6 Religious Attitudes to World Poverty

Key features

The Skills that are taught include

• How to write Essays
• How to interpret and evaluate pieces of information
• How to communicate and apply your knowledge
• How to think critically and solve problems

Assessment

• Written Examination
• Students will complete one written examination in the Summer Term