Religious Studies
This subject is for 4th and 5th Formers only. At Sixth Form, pupils study Philosophy, Religious Studies and Ethics as a combined subject.
The Religious Studies department invites pupils to explore religious beliefs and practices that are both different from, and similar to, their own.
We consider complex ethical, philosophical and religious questions in a structured and intelligent way, promoting the appreciation of alternative and equally valid points of view.
In so doing, we encourage empathy, compassion, understanding and tolerance towards all religious traditions.
4th Form
In Lower 4, pupils learn the defining characteristics of religions through an examination of the main features of the world’s six principal faiths. They also receive an introduction to the Jewish and Christian faiths, examining the symbolic meanings of their symbols, stories and art.
In Upper 4, pupils learn about contrasting world views and the beliefs of Hindus and Muslims. They also study the extent to which a religious person’s world view impacts upon and shapes his/her daily life.
5th Form
In Lower 5, pupils explore the concept of God and the coherence of divine attributes while assessing the arguments for the existence of God. They will also begin to define and develop their own, particular world views by comparing the scientific and Christian accounts of the origins of the universe and life on earth, assessing whether these accounts are reconcilable or mutually exclusive.
At GCSE we follow the AQA syllabus:
Component 1: The study of religions - beliefs, teachings and practices in Buddhism and Christianity.
Component 2: Thematic studies - religious, philosophical and ethical studies: relationships and families; religion, peace and conflict; religion, crime and punishment; religion, human rights and social justice.