Religious Education Department

Aims

• To help pupils recognise and appreciate the religious and spiritual dimensions of life.
• To lead to a deeper knowledge and understanding of the Catholic and the other religious traditions and the ways in which they seek to express the significance of human life.
• To allow space for searching and questioning.
• To challenge pupils to examine their own life stance, to deepen their personal faith commitment and to respect that of others.
• Religious Education should be provided in a spirit of tolerance, encouraging in the pupils the confidence to grown and develop in his or her own way and at his or her own proper pace.

Key Stage 3

Students follow a diverse Christian education programme. This programme will allow them to explore the key elements of Christian belief and teaching. It offers an understanding and insight into the religious dimensions of life. Emphasis will be placed on:

• The life and teaching of Jesus
• The human person – called to fullness of life;
• The Church – its life a mission;
• Sacraments and Catholic belief and life:
• The Liturgical Year

Autumn Term:

• Belonging
• St Augustine of Canterbury
• Sacraments – Eucharist
• Faith challenges to include; being a Pilgrim,
• Time challenges, life changing events September 11th, leadership challenges, prayer and hope challenges.

Spring Term:

• At the heart of belief
• Word made flesh
• Love
• Sacrifice
• Resurrection
• Islam.
• Justice & human rights.

Summer Term:

• A Vision for living
• The common good
• Living Powerful Lives
• Living commitment
• Living the gospel
• Crime and Punishment
• Preparation for GCSE Religious Study
• Values
• Crime and Punishment.
• Religion in the media/film

There are also lessons set aside every term for prayer and meditation in the Chapel or classroom.

Year 9 trips: Alton Castle three day retreat and World Religions day in Birmingham.

Key Stage 4

Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations Religious Studies

PAPER 2B - Christian (Roman Catholic) perspectives on personal, social and world issues

Throughout this paper YOU should be aware of the basic Christian teaching, from the Bible and from statements from the Church when appropriate, which may guide the modern Christian in making decisions about contemporary moral issues. Texts are suggested which might help the YOU to interpret the teaching of the Bible in relation to the issue being studied. In addition YOU should be
Familiar with the relevant passages of Church documents such as the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1992).

Topics Covered

YOU should have considered the following influences on Christian moral decision-making:

• The importance of the Bible for Christians, especially the Ten Commandments
• The role of the church for Christians: the ways in which statements made by the Church, the advice of clergy, and the support of the local Christian community might influence the decisions of individual Christians;
• The importance of prayer, conscience and the guidance of the Holy Spirit for Christians.
• Love (agape) as a guiding Christian principle:

• Marriage, Divorce and Annulment; Relationships within the Family
• Birth and Death
• Prejudice and equality
• War, peace and human rights
• Christian responsibility for the planet
• Christian responsibility towards the disadvantaged

PAPER 4B Christianity (Roman Catholic)Beliefs

YOU should have considered the beliefs of Christians in relation to the following:

• the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – as expressed in the Nicene Creed;
• sin, judgment, forgiveness, salvation, eternal life;
  Include here: Anointing of the Sick and Reconciliation.
  Funeral rites and beliefs about death and dying, life after death
• the Ten Commandments
• the Christian ideal as expressed in Jesus’ teaching in:
  the Sermon on the Mount the two great commandments
• the role of Mary – as expressed in the Hail Mary (and the Catechism).

There should be a consideration of the ways in which these beliefs might affect the lifestyles and outlooks of Christians in the modern world.

Festivals, Fasts and Special Days
Major Divisions and Interpretations
Places and Forms of Worship
Religion in the Community and the Family
Sacred Writings

Key stage 5 - AS Level

G571: Philosophy of Religion

• Ancient Greek influences on philosophy of religion
• Judaeo-Christian influences on philosophy of religion
• Traditional arguments for the existence of God
• Challenges to religious belief

G572: Religious Ethics

• Ethical theories
• Applied ethics topics; Abortion, Euthanasia, War, Embryo research/Genetic engineering

Key stage 5 - A2 Level

G581: Philosophy of Religion

• Religious language
• Experience and religion
• Nature of God
• Life and death
• Miracle

G582: Religious Ethics

• Meta-Ethics
• Free will and determinism
• Conscience
• Virtue ethics
• Applied ethics topics: Environmental, Business, Sexual ethics