Religious Studies

Religious Studies is taught throughout Year 7 to Year 11.

Curriculum Intent – Rationale and Building on Prior Learning

Rationale

Religious Studies helps pupils to understand the wide and diverse culture of Britain today whilst also upholding the importance of the British values of respect, tolerance, free speech and democracy. Through class discussions and engaging with the viewpoints of world religions pupils are able to reach their own judgements based on reason and in light of Christian, Buddhist, Sikh and Muslim attitudes. Pupils will develop a sense of understanding of the beliefs of a multicultural Britain and how it impacts how people in Britain live today. Furthermore, they will be challenged with questions about values, meaning, purpose and truth, which will enable them to develop their own attitudes towards religious issues and enhance their analytical and critical thinking skills.

Building on Prior Learning

In Religious Studies we build on prior learning in both the short and long term. In the short-term pupils will access their prior learning by recapping at the start and end of lessons. In the longer term, pupils will begin to link not only knowledge gained in previous lessons but also link practices to ethical and philosophical questions in the world today.

Curriculum Implementation – Delivery and Assessment

Delivery

Pupils will have Religious Studies lessons across KS3 and KS4. At KS3, there is a more systematic approach – one of the world’s main religions will be studied one at a time so that by the end of KS3 all pupils have an in-depth knowledge of Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Sikhism. This makes it possible to take a more thematic approach at KS4 when pupils will look at philosophical and ethical dilemmas in the world today and the religious/non-religious responses to them. Pupils having now studied four of the main religions can empathise with the beliefs of those around them before constructing their own successful lines of argument to make sense of the issue themselves. This approach to delivering the Religious Studies curriculum provides a coherent understanding of the main religions of Britain today and their impact on peoples lives.

Assessment

At KS3 and KS4 assessments will assess both knowledge and skills – students will start by being assessed on their understanding of key beliefs before explanation based questions assess their ability to apply these beliefs to their impact today. At KS3 and KS4 summative assessments are completed after each topic and scaffolding is provided for those pupils who require it.

Our Religious Studies programme at Holy Trinity is planned in line with the Worcestershire Agreed Syllabus for RS and the full document can be accessed below.