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As a Catholic School, Religious Education (RE) is a core subject for all students from Y7-Y13 and central to our school ethos. The RE courses are authentic to the Catholic faith, rigorous and engaging, allowing students of all backgrounds to be fully immersed in the curriculum in an inclusive way.

All students complete a GCSE in RE in Year 11, and each student in Year 12 and 13 will study Core RE as part of their course alongside the other subject/s they have chosen. 

The subject also encourages students to develop their critical thinking and evaluative skills as they form their own arguments around common and divergent views within Catholic Christianity. Throughout the course there is time allowed for spiritual reflection including opportunities to reflect on personal beliefs and how these teachings impact students personally.

The Head of RE is Mr Willis - he can be contacted via reception. 

Year 7 Religious Education Course Description

Lessons per 2 week cycle : 5

How is the course taught?

The KS3 RE course is taught across three academic years. The students study Catholic Christianity alongside other world religions so they are ready to engage with the GCSE curriculum when they reach Year 10. In Year 7 students study units on Creation and Covenant, Prophecy and Promise, Galilee to Jerusalem, Desert to Garden, To the Ends of the Earth and Islam. Students develop their literacy, oracy and research skills through extended writing, research projects, presentations and group work. Formative and summative assessment is used to evaluate learning throughout the unit.  There are two formal assessment points, one mid-unit which takes many forms such as essay questions, speeches, letters or presentations and one end of unit assessment which is always written and is essay-based.

 

How are students grouped?

Students are taught in their form groups

How are students assessed?

RE uses a range of methods to assess students including:

  • Quizzes in class and on Satchel1
  • Homework
  • Mid-term assessments
  • End of Unit assessments

 

Homework:

Homework is set every two weeks and based on retrieval of content taught in lesson. Homework can include research, extended writing and questions. Homework is set via Satchel1 and resources are given in class.

Textbooks and Materials provided and needed:

All material needed is provided.

 

Curriculum Calendar

 

Autumn Term 1

Creation and Covenant

  • An introduction to Catholic Christianity
  • The Bible and the different types of writing
  • The Genesis accounts of creation
  • The scientific theories about creation
  • What is our responsibility to others and to the world
  • The role of prayer

 

Autumn Term 2

Prophecy and Promise

  • How to navigate the Bible
  • What connects the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament?
  • Why is the Old Testament important?
  • How are scripture, tradition and the magisterium connected?
  • How do Catholics use scripture in Mass?
  • The Book of Kells

 

Spring Term 1

Galilee to Jerusalem

  • The Incarnation
  • The Person of Jesus
  • The doctrine of the Trinity
  • How does Catholic worship reflect belief in the Trinity
  • How is Jesus the perfect human
  • Business ethics

 

Spring Term 2

Desert to Garden

  • The Paschal Mystery
  • The Sacraments
  • The Last Supper and the Eucharist
  • The sacrifice and structure of Mass
  • Different Christian beliefs about the Eucharist
  • How can we respond to world hunger?
  • The Eucharist in art

 

Summer Term 1

The Ends of the Earth

  • Who was Saint Luke
  • The Holy Spirit
  • The role of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ life
  • Pentecost
  • The Church
  • Pentecost in art and in different countries

Summer Term 2

Islam

  • Why it is important to study Islam
  • Muslims beliefs about the nature of Allah
  • Who Muhammad (pbuh) is and his importance
  • The importance of the Qur’an
  • The Five Pillars of Islam
  • Features of Islamic art

Year 8 Religious Education Course Description 

Lessons per 2 week cycle : 5

How is the course taught?

The KS3 RE course is taught across three academic years. The students study Catholic Christianity alongside other world religions so they are ready to engage with the GCSE curriculum when they reach Year 10. In Year 8 students study units on Revelation, Sacraments, The Person of Jesus, Sacrifice and Death, Judgement and Afterlife and Sikhism. Students develop their literacy, oracy and research skills through extended writing, research projects, presentations and group work. Student progress is tracked using AWLs – Emerging, Developing, Secure and Mastery. Formative assessment is used to evaluate learning throughout the unit.  There are two formal assessment points, one mid-unit which takes many forms such as essay questions, speeches, letters or presentations and one end of unit assessment which is always written and is essay-based.

 

How are students grouped?

Students are taught in their form groups

How are students assessed?

RE uses a range of methods to assess students including:

  • Quizzes in class and on Satchel1
  • Homework
  • Mid-term assessments
  • End of Unit assessments

 

Homework:

Homework is set every two weeks and based on retrieval of content taught in lesson. Homework can include research, extended writing and questions. Homework is set via Satchel1 and resources are given in class.

Textbooks and Materials provided and needed:

All material needed is provided.

 

Curriculum Calendar

 

Autumn Term 1

Revelation

  • How Genesis 1 influences Christian understandings of God
  • Analyse the meaning of the term the ‘Image of God’
  • Covenants God made with Abraham, Noah, and Moses
  • Prophets
  • The importance of the Messiah
  • To evaluate how far Jesus was the perfect sacrifice

 

Autumn Term 2

Grace and Sacraments

  • To understand why grace is necessary for salvation
  • To investigate the concept of original sin
  • To be able to explain the theological virtues and how we practise them today
  • To analyse how virtues can help Christians lead holy lives
  • To know the importance of the Sacraments

 

Spring Term 1

Marriage and the Family

  • To discuss different views of marriage
  • To understand biblical teachings on marriage
  • To explain why Catholics believe marriage is important
  • To know the importance of the marriage vows
  •  To explain Catholic teachings on the importance of family life
  • To explore Roman Catholic teaching on divorce and remarriage

 

Spring Term 2

Sacrifice and Death

  • Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem
  • Jesus’ anointing at Bethany
  • Why Judas betrayed Jesus
  • Jesus’ trial and its significance
  • Mark’s account of Jesus’ crucifixion
  • The impact Jesus’ resurrection has on Christians today

 

Summer Term 1

Judgement and Afterlife

  • Original Sin
  • Catholic beliefs about life after death
  • The significance of the Funeral Mass
  • Judgement day
  • The reason and purpose of purgatory
  • Explore artwork to evaluate different beliefs about the afterlife

 

Summer Term 2

Sikhism

  • The origins of Sikhism
  • Guru Nanak’s teachings
  • Sewa
  • The similarities and differences of Guru Tegh Bahadur’s teachings and modern examples of Sikh practice
  • The Mool Mantar
  • The importance of Vaisakhi
  • The importance of the 5K’s in Sikhism
  • The features of a Gurdwara

 

Year 9 Religious Education Course Description 

Lessons per 2 week cycle : 5

How is the course taught?

 

The KS3 RE course is taught across three academic years. The students study Catholic Christianity alongside other world religions so they are ready to engage with the GCSE curriculum when they reach Year 10. In Year 9 students study units on Judaism, Women of Faith, Hearing the Call, Ethics, Lived Religion and Religion in the Media. Students develop their literacy, oracy and research skills through extended writing, research projects, presentations and group work. Student progress is tracked using AWLs – Emerging, Developing, Secure and Mastery. Formative assessment is used to evaluate learning throughout the unit.  There are two formal assessment points, one mid-unit which takes many forms such as essay questions, speeches, letters or presentations and one end of unit assessment which is always written and is essay-based.

 

How are students grouped?

Students are taught in their form groups

How are students assessed?

RE uses a range of methods to assess students including:

  • Quizzes in class and on Satchel1
  • Homework
  • Mid-term assessments
  • End of Unit assessments

 

Homework:

Homework is set every two weeks and based on retrieval of content taught in lesson. Homework can include research, extended writing and questions. Homework is set via Satchel1 and resources are given in class.

Textbooks and Materials provided and needed:

All material needed is provided.

Curriculum Calendar

 

Autumn Term 1

Judaism

  • The foundations of Judaism and the belief that God is One 
  • Different key writings with the Tenakh and its formation
  • Key titles of God
  • The qualities of the Messiah
  • The Covenants with Abraham and Moses and their importance to Jewish communities today
  • Key features of a Synagogue

Autumn Term 2

  Following Jesus

  • To describe the call of the disciples
  • To describe the story of Peter’s promise and denial
  • To explore whether the disciples were good role models
  • To study Jesus’ teaching on service and examine its significance for 21st century Christians
  • To know and understand the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)
  • To explain the different ways Christians may respond to a Christian calling
  • To evaluate the ordination of women

 

Spring Term 1

Ethics

  • Dignity
  • Sanctity of Life
  • Imago Dei
  • Pro-life organisations
  • Equality
  • War and Peace

Spring Term 2

Hearing the Call

  • Vocation
  • Sacrament of Baptism
  • Sacrament of Ordination  
  • Missionaries of Charity
  • Modern Day Disciples

 

Summer Term 1

Human Rights and Social Justice

  • Catholic beliefs about human dignity
  • The relationship between rights and responsibilities
  • Responsibilities around wealth
  • Catholic attitudes towards greed
  • Catholic teachings about poverty
  • Christian charities that work to fight against poverty
  • Catholic teachings on justice, equality, prejudice and discrimination

Summer Term 2

Introduction to Catholic Christianity

  • Sources of authority with the Catholic Faith 
  • The nature of Jesus and the hypostatic union
  • The Kingdom of God and the teachings of Jesus 
  • How Jesus established His Church
  • How the Church is structured 
  • Catholic teachings about the afterlife  

 

Year 10 Religious Education Course Description 

Lessons per 2 week cycle : 6

How is the course taught?

 The course is taught across two academic years. The students have been introduced to the course curriculum and given an introduction to Catholic Christianity in KS3 so are able to enter Y10 ready to engage with the GCSE curriculum. Students work through key themes in Christianity and the beliefs, practices and sources of wisdom that accompany these such as Creation, Redemption and Eschatology.

Exam questions are utilised and broken down through sentence starters and a focus on PEEL to enable them to structure answers effectively.

How are students grouped?

Students are grouped according to ability in flexible setting from Set 1-5

How are students assessed?

RE uses a range of methods to assess students including:

  • Quizzes in class and on Edulink
  • Exam Questions at the end of lessons
  • Homework including 12 mark questions
  • End of Unit assessments
  • Grade indicator exams

Homework:

Homework is set every two weeks and based on retrieval of content taught in lesson or practise exam questions. Homework is set via Edulink and resources are given in class and can also be found on Google Classroom.

Textbooks and Materials provided and needed:

 All students are given an AQA Revision Guide at the end of Y10 to support their learning which contains all content needed for their exam.

 

Curriculum Calendar

 

Autumn Term 1

Creation

  • Different sources of authority for Catholics today
  • Understand how the Bible is formed and its significance
  • Know Catholic teachings about God and creation
  • Understand how God is creator, transcendent and omnipotent
  • Explain how Genesis influences Catholic believes about free will and stewardship
  • Know different ways Genesis is interpreted today
  • Understand different beliefs expressed in Michelangelo’s ‘Creation of Adam’
  • Know different beliefs within Christianity about religion and science
  • understand the term Natural Law and relate Natural Law to how it applies to the Sanctity of Life

Autumn Term 2

Incarnation

  • Understand Catholic belief in Incarnation
  • explore beliefs about Jesus 
  • examine different titles of Jesus including ‘Son of Man’ and ‘Son of God’
  • Explore Jesus’ moral teachings including the Beatitudes and the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats
  • Understand the writings of Irenaeus about the nature of Jesus
  • Compare and contrast the presentations of the Incarnation in Dei Verbum 4 and Verbum Domini 12
  • Analyse how belief in the Incarnation influences use of religious art and imagery

Spring Term 1

Triune God

  • Catholic understanding of the glory of God and the mystery of the Trinity
  • Expressions of the Trinity in music, scripture and tradition
  • The authority and influence of the magisterium

The practice of prayer.

Spring Term 2

Redemption

             The Paschal mystery of salvation and its celebration in Catholic worship

•             The Church as the ‘Body of Christ’ and a redeemed ‘People of God’

•             Different metaphors used to express the mystery of salvation

•             The shape, contents and meaning of Church buildings and decoration

             The parts of a Church which speak directly about the mystery of salvation as celebrated and made present in the sacrament of the Eucharist

•          The wonder of redemption as highlighted by Anselm and Irenaeus

 

Year 11 Religious Education Course Description 

Lessons per 2 week cycle : 6

How is the course taught?

 The course is taught across two academic years. The students have already completed their first component on Catholic Christianity in Year 10 so have a detailed knowledge of the beliefs, teachings and practices found within Catholic Christianity. Students complete two more components during Y11, one on Themes which cover key ethical issues and one on Judaism which includes beliefs, teachings and practices.

Exam questions are utilised and broken down through sentence starters and a focus on PEEL to enable them to structure answers effectively.

How are students grouped?

Students are grouped according to ability in flexible setting from Set 1-6 in the girls school and Set 1-5 in the boys school

How are students assessed?

RE uses a range of methods to assess students including:

  • Quizzes in class and on Edulink
  • Exam Questions at the end of lessons
  • Homework including 12 mark questions
  • End of Unit assessments
  • Grade indicator exams

Homework:

Homework is set every two weeks and based on retrieval of content taught in lesson or practise exam questions. Homework is set via Edulink and resources are given in class and can also be found on Google Classroom.

Textbooks and Materials provided and needed:

 All students have been given an AQA Revision Guide at the end of Y10 to support their learning which contains all content needed for their exam. They are also given flashcards and further Revision Guides in Y11 which have been created by the RE Faculty.

 

Curriculum Calendar

 

Autumn Term 1

Theme A: Religion, Relationships and Families

  • Ethical themes including Christian and non-religious beliefs in contemporary British society about Relationships and Families
  • Love and sexuality
  • Relationships such as marriage
  • Roles of men and women
  • Gender equality

Autumn Term 2

Theme B: Religion, Peace and Conflict

  • Ethical themes including Christian and non-religious beliefs in contemporary British society about Peace and Conflict
  • Human violence
  • Just war
  • Holy war
  • Pacifism
  • Terrorism
  • Conflict resolution
  • Peace making

 

Spring Term 1

Judaism: Beliefs and Teachings

  • The beliefs and teachings of Judaism and their basis in Jewish sources of wisdom and authority
  • The influence of the beliefs and teachings and practices studied on individuals, communities and societies.
  • Common and divergent views within Judaism in the way beliefs and teachings are understood including for Orthodox, Reform and Liberal Jews

Spring Term 2

Judaism: Practices

  • The practices of Judaism and their basis in Jewish sources of wisdom and authority.
  • The influence of the practices studied on individuals, communities and societies
  • Common and divergent views within Judaism in the way beliefs and teachings are practiced including in Orthodox, Reform and Liberal Judaism

 

Summer Term 1

Revision

We complete Revision in class to ensure all content has been sufficiently covered. This will include a range of revision techniques including crib sheets, A3 sheets, exam questions, videos, podcasts and quizzes.

Year 12 Core RE Curriculum Calendar

 

Autumn Term 1

Human Rights

Students will be introduced to key Catholic teachings around the implementation, status, and origins of human rights, and To know the meaning and message of human rights. In this unit students will:  

  • Link the gospel values of integrity, sanctity, and equality of Godliness to human rights in the modern world
  • understand the role of positive action in aiding fellow humans

 explain the Church’s teaching on human rights particularly through Gaudium et Spes

  • know the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and be familiar with scripture and Catholic Social Teaching relating to human rights, particularly Pacem in Terris
  •  explain some of the differences that the upholding of human rights can make to people in poor communities in developing countries, and give examples of how CAFOD local experts have helped to uphold human rights  
  • be aware of opportunities to help some of those whose rights are being ignored or abused, both locally and globally to expose them to current human rights issues in the world today.

Autumn Term 2

Human Trafficking

Students will be introduced to the current status and issues surrounding human trafficking, and to allow the students the chance to reflect on the Church’s teaching in relation to the treatment of the most vulnerable in society. In this unit students will: 

  • Know the meaning and message of the Church’s Social Teaching
  • Link the gospel values of compassion, love, and equality to issues around the treatment of humans around the world
  • understand the role of Christian action in aiding fellow humans
  • Know the Church’s teaching on dignity
  • Apply scripture and Catholic Social Teaching to human trafficking
  • Explain the Church’s teachings on the preferential option for the poor   
  • Be aware of opportunities to grow community cohesion and the Church’s teaching on the creation of the world influence Catholics’ treatment of the vulnerable in the modern world

 

Spring Term 1

Religion and Science

Students will explore the relationship between Religion and science. Students will consider differing perspectives on key questions of science and how this links and effects religious belief.

  • know the relationship between Religion and Science. In this unit students will: 
  • Know the differences between Religion and Science To know the idea of confirmation bias on the discussion on science and religion,
  • Know and discuss key theories regarding the relationship between science and religion. Especially the Kettle and Aquarium analogues.
  • Consider definitions of Scientism and Creationism, exploring why they are a problem.
  • Look at Genesis 1:1-3 and discuss which aspects of it support the Catholic Doctrine of Ex Nihilo.
  • Know the Catholic Church’s position on the Big Bang and ask whether it is compatible with Ex Nihilo.

Spring Term 2

Medical Ethics

Students will look at moral dilemmas found in medical ethics and evaluate the various religious In this unit students will: 

  • Know the definition of the meaning of Sanctity of Life
  • Comparison of arguments for and against the idea of the Sanctity of Life
  • Discuss how different people would respond to the statement that “All life of Sacred.”
  • Identify global trends linked to abortion rates and laws round the world.
  • Discuss different views on Abortion and respond to different statements on the matter
  • Debate whether Abortion can be justified
  • Consider the statement “My life is mine, I can choose when to die” and consider it themselves.
  • Know key terms to do with Euthanasia
  • Identify the moral distinction and separation on approaches to Passive and Active Euthanasia.
  • Consider the ethical issues raised around the concept of Designer Babies
  • Consider the advantages and disadvantages of allowing genetic engineering

Summer Term 1

War and Peace

To consider the causes of conflict with a religious basis. To explore the differing views on Conflict, Peace and Pacifism, evaluating whether these are compatible with views on Justice and the Catholic Faith. In this unit students will: 

  • Know their own views on the statement “In your opinion, could a Christian ever justify starting a war?”
  • Identify and explain the seven sections of the just war theory
  • How to analyse the problem of modern warfare and see whether it is possible to have a just war today.
  • Know Papal perspectives on WMDs
  • Consider views of famous pacifists and come to a decision on what they believe pacifism is.
  • Know types of pacifism and evaluate these based on which is most useful and which is most compatible with Christianity.
  • Know key scripture quotes and see whether the bible supports pacifism,
  • Know the view Professor George Lakey on Christian Pacifism and why he supports this.

Summer Term 2

Religious Experience

To consider how the basis of Faith. How does experience develop a religious perspective and lead to an individual choosing to live a religious life. In this unit students will: 

  • understand the different types of religious experience that Christians have recognised.
  • evaluate the significance of these different types of experience.
  • understand examples of religious experience that are given in the Bible.
  • evaluate how these accounts can influence Christians today.
  • know examples of healings and different Christian beliefs about whether miracles happen.
  • evaluate whether Christian should believe in miracles in the 21st century.
  • understand what is meant by a near death experience.
  • explore evidence of near-death experiences and Christian beliefs on them.

Year 13 Core RE Curriculum Calendar

Autumn Term 1

 Stewardship

Students will learn the Catholic Belief of Stewardship and how our actions and views on environmentalism effect the world today and in the future. understand the importance of stewardship and environmental protection in the Catholic Church. In this unit students will:

  • Know the importance of stewardship and environmental protection in the Catholic Church.
  • explore differing and complementary views on the environment and stewardship.
  • evaluate how Catholics should respond to the issue of stewardship today.
  • understand why the environment has become such a prevalent part of discussion/ culture today.
  • evaluate what the most important concerns are around environmental issues.
  • understand how the Bible informs Catholics of their responsibility to the environment.
  • evaluate what the Bible calls for Catholics to do in their response to the environment.
  • know the content and context of the document Laudato Si published by Pope Francis.
  • know evaluate whether what Pope Francis calls Catholics to do will an effective way to combat climate change.
  • know the practical ways that Christians respond to climate change.
  • know differing perspectives on whether it is okay for Christians to eat meat.
  • evaluate whether the call to stewardship means not eating meat/ being vegan.

Autumn Term 2

Living Faith today

The unit explores the challenges to religious belief in the 21st Century and how the Catholic Church responds to these challenges. In this units student’s will:

  • Understand how Secularism challenges religion in the world today
  • Explore Christian responses to Secularism 
  • Explore Christian responses to 21st Century Culture and materialism
  • Understand gospel values as a Catholic response to modern society
  • Look into ways in which Christianity has worked in unison to promote unity in the modern world.
  • Examine how Taizé shows the importance of Christian unity
  • Examine the ways in which the Catholic Church works to engage the youth.
  • Explore the impact of Catholic youth missions

 

Spring Term 1

Faith and Politics

Students will learn the importance of politics for Christians today, both within Britain and around the world. Lessons will explore differing perspectives of Jesus’ politics form the Gospel accounts. This will allow students to evaluate how much faith should play in political decisions of a Catholic. In this unit students will:

  • understand basic conservative beliefs and how it impacts their world view.

 

  • understand basic liberal beliefs and how it impacts their world view.

 

  • understand basic socialist beliefs and how it impacts their world view.

 

  •  understand Jesus’ attitudes to how Christians should view the role of the state.

 

  • evaluate where Jesus should be placed on the political spectrum.

 

  • understand Catholic approaches to key moral political issues, with particular focus on euthanasia.

 

  • evaluate what other political issues Catholics should be concerned about morally.

 

  •  understand what liberation theology was and the principles behind it.

 

  • evaluate if Catholics should be acting in the way encouraged by liberation theology.

 

  • know differing perspectives on whether religious belief should influence political decisions.

 

  • evaluate whether they believe that their own religious/moral views influence their political beliefs.

Spring Term 2

Crime and Punishment

Students will explore differing views on crime and punishment and evaluate whether these are compatible with Catholic perspectives on justice and peace.  In this unit students will:

  • understand the nature of crime in the UK today.
  • explore different approaches to the causes of crime.
  • understand examples of crime and punishment in the Old Testament.
  • understand examples of crime and punishment in the New Testament.
  • understand different ways that Christians respond to those being punished for crimes.
  • evaluate whether the Catholic Church has a realistic view through its responses to crime.
  • understand the history and context of capital punishment.
  • understand the approach of the Catholic Church to capital punishment.
  • evaluate whether Christians should support the use of capital punishment.

Summer Term 1

Differences within Christianity

This unit explores different opinions within Christianity on a variety of issues. Students will gain an understanding of why there are multiple denominations. In this unit students will:

  • understand conservative/Catholic views on the authority and theological status of scripture
  • understand liberal views on the theological status of scripture
  • understand fundamentalist views on the theological status of scripture
  • understand views in Catholicism on the nature and purpose of priesthood, including questions of priests marrying
  • understand views  in Protestantism on the nature and purposes of priesthood
  • understand orthodox attitudes to priesthood
  • understand views in Catholicism on the nature of the papacy, including its history and modern status
  • understand protestant and other Christian views on the papacy
  • understand the Catholic attitude towards worship
  • understand different attitudes to worship within Christianity,

Summer Term 2