Curriculum Intent
RE at Key Stage 3 prepares students for success in their GCSEs. It covers 6 major world religions with a stimulating and engaging approach to philosophy and spirituality. Students will explore lessons through literacy techniques, philosophical enquiry and experiential learning. In Year 7 students will study Christianity, Judaism and Hinduism through beliefs and practices. In Year 8 students will focus on Founders, Crime and Conflict. Year 9 students explore Media and Ethics to prepare for a GCSE option which deepens their understanding and evaluation of beliefs and practices. They evaluate approaches to human rights, sexuality, ethics and prejudice.
Open Evening Flyer
Aims
Religious Education in Key Stage 3 contributes dynamically to students education by provoking challenging questions about meaning and purpose in life, beliefs about God, ultimate reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human.
In RE they learn about and from religions and worldviews in local, national and global contexts, to discover, explore and consider different answers to these questions. They learn to weigh up the value of wisdom from different sources, to develop and express their insights in response, and to agree or disagree respectfully.
Teaching equips students with systematic knowledge and understanding of a range of religions and worldviews, enabling them to develop their ideas, values and identities. It develops in students an aptitude for dialogue so that they can participate positively in our society with its diverse religions and worldviews. Students gain and deploy the skills needed to understand, interpret and evaluate texts, sources of wisdom and authority and other evidence. They learn to articulate clearly and coherently their personal beliefs, ideas, values and experiences while respecting the right of others to differ.
Key Stage Three Curriculum Overview
Year 7 - Religions | Year 8 – Beliefs & Practices | Year 9 – Themes |
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Autumn Term Topic – Christianity & What is RE? • What is symbolism? • Jesus as Special Person • Churches • What is the Trinity? • Miracles • Prayer | Autumn Term Topic – Founders & Leaders • Siddartha – The Buddha • Enlightenment & Meditation • Muhammad • Pope • Guru Nanak | Autumn Term Topic – Relationships & Media • Marriage Rites • 2 POS from Downlands |
*Assessment: Core Christian Beliefs (Multiple Choice 1 mark GCSE-style questions) **Trip – Humanities Trip to Chichester | *Assessment: Introduction to Religions 4 and 5 mark GCSE-style questions | *Assessment: Relationships - One 12-mark GCSE-style question |
Spring Term Topic - Judaism • Introduction to Judaism • Moses & Passover • The 10 Commandments • The Torah • Shabbat • Home • Rites • Holocaust | Spring Term Topic – Crime & Punishment • Rules • Forgiveness • Capital punishment • Retributions | Spring Term Topic – Sanctity & Suffering • Downlands |
*Assessment: Judaism (Multiple Choice 1 mark GCSE-style questions) | *Assessment: Crime and Punishment 4 and 5 mark GCSE-style questions | *Assessment: Suffering - One 12 mark GCSE-style questions) |
Summer Term Topic – Hinduism • Introduction to Hinduism • Beliefs about God • Creation • Avatars • God stories • Karma & Moksha • Ahimsa | Summer Term Topic – Peace & Conflict • Is violence necessary? • How do you make change? • Gandhi • MLK • War & Peace • Social Justice & Poverty | Summer Term Topic – The Island • Story development • Religious connections • Journal • Rules • Death |
*Assessment: Hinduism GCSE-style Assessment Multiple Naming 2 mark questions ** Trip to the Neasden Temple? | *Assessment: War and Peace Multiple 4 and 5 mark GCSE-style questions | *Assessment: The Island Journal writing assessed using English creative writing criteria |
Key Stage Four Curriculum Overview
- The Island
- Judaism – Key Beliefs & Festivals
- Christianity – Key Beliefs & Festivals
- Thematic Studies
- Human Rights and Social Justice
- Sexual Relationships and Family
- Crime and Punishment
- Peace and Conflict
- Existence of God
Year 10 - Religions | Year 11 – Thematic Studies |
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Autumn Term Topic – Judaism Beliefs and Practices • Abraham & Moses • Shabbat • Pesach • God • Torah • Covenant & Mitzvot | Autumn Term Topic – Life • Abortion • Euthanasia • Origins • Environment • Animals Topic – Crime & Punishment • Corporal punishment • Death penalty • Forgiveness • Religion, crime and the causes of crime • The aims of punishment • The treatment of criminals |
*Assessment: Mock Exam | *Assessment: Exam Papers at end of each topic *Assessment: Mock Exam on Year 10 Topics |
Spring Term Topic - Christianity Beliefs and Practices • Trinity • Creation • Resurrection • Jesus as God | Spring Term Topic – Peace & Conflict • Weapons of mass destruction • Pacifism • Religion, violence, terrorism and war • The meaning and significance of peace Topic – Relationships & Families • Contraception • Sexual relationships before marriage • Homosexual relationships • Divorce • Families and gender equality • The role of parents and children • The purpose of families |
*Assessment: Mock Exam | *Assessment: Exam Papers at end of each topic |
Exam Board: AQA
Specification: Religious Studies (Spec A)
Exam: Paper 1 50% Paper 2 50%
Key Words
We aim to support students in their literacy across all curriculum subjects. We provide key word lists as a teaching and learning tool to support student understanding of the technical vocabulary needed to articulate their learning about a particular subject.
Trips and Extra Curricular Activities
- Year 7 Humanities visit to Chichester to extend thinking and enquiry skills.
- Year 9 RE/History visit to holocaust survivor at Chichester Cathedral
- Year 9 and 10 History residential trip to World War I battlefields in Belgium and France.
- Year 9 and 10 History/RE residential trip to Auschwitz
- GCSE History trip to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
- GCSE Geography residential trip to Iceland
- GCSE Geography fieldwork in Brighton
- GCSE RE visit to Jewish Museum in London
- Links to specific events such as Black History Month, Holocaust Day, Fair-trade fortnight, Oxfam Water Week and Send our Friend to School campaign.
Staff
Mr P Harper BA (Hons) – Leader of RE
Mr M Burns BSc (Hons) – Teacher of History
Mrs C Twinn BA (Hons) – Teacher of RE & Geography