Religious Studies

The Religious Studies department is staffed by four specialist teachers.

Miss C Deriss (Academic Performance Manager)

Miss E Kennedy (Student Development Manager)

My B Coyle (Deputy Headteacher)

Mrs D Kearney.

Students at Key Stage 3 study four lessons of Religious Studies over a two week period. At Key Stage 4 this is increased to five lessons. Religious Studies is a compulsory and core subject at both Key Stages.

Rationale

Religious Studies provides a rich and wide range of experiences inside and outside the classroom. This subject provides students with opportunities to develop concepts and skills that will help them to make sense of their own experiences and beliefs, and to understand the beliefs and practices of members of faith communities.

Within Religious Studies students are stimulated with fundamental questions about life, morality and contemporary world issues. RS presents a space in which young people develop the ability to make reasoned and informed judgements about religious and moral issues which they will carry forward into adult life.

Therefore Religious Studies at Holy Family has a major role in helping students to:

Engage with the living Christian faith of the school;

Recognise where they are on their spiritual and faith journey;

Develop a sense of themselves as important and unique children of God 

Gain a deeper understanding of their own faith and the unique joint faith nature of the school

Become active and responsible citizens.

The Religious Studies Department strives to deliver the highest standards of teaching and learning to enable students to:

Think theologically and rationally, exploring ultimate questions;

Reflect on Christian beliefs and values

Learn from and understand the life of Jesus Christ

Understand the importance of scripture

Analyse and explain the varied responses to moral issues

Reflect on areas of shared belief and practice between different faiths; appreciating the beliefs and cultures of those around them

Develop the skills to analyse, interpret and evaluate

Achieve the highest possible grades in external examinations, developing academic excellence.

Programme of Study

Key Stage 3

In the lower school students study Christianity, focusing on the joint faith nature of the school and also study other major world religions.

Over years 7, 8 and 9 the students will study topics such as:

Worship

Christian Living

The nature of God

The Old and New Testament

The Life of Jesus

Beliefs and Values

Prejudice and Discrimination

A study of Judaism

A study of Islam

A study of Buddhism

Students are assessed once per term at Key Stage 3 and according to the national levels.

Key Stage 4

In Year 10 pupils study Edexcel GCSE Religion and Life based on a study of Christianity. The GCSE is examined in two modules, Unit 2 at the end of year 10 and Unit 8 at the end of year 11, each being 1.5 hours in length, consisting of four questions and with 50% of the final mark.

Unit 2 – Studied in Year 10 consists of the following topics:

Believing in God

Matters of Life and Death

Marriage and Family Life

Religion and Community Cohesion.

Unit 8  - Studied in Year 11 follows the Edexcel course Religion and Society based on the study of Christianity and at least one other religion.

The course consists of the following topics:

Religion: rights and responsibilities

Religion: environmental and medical issues

Religion: peace and conflict

Religion: crime and punishment