Religious Education

Students are taught RE in their tutor groups in Key Stage 3 one lesson a week.  The scheme of work is based on the Hertfordshire Agreed syllabus for Religious Studies, but modified to suit the learning requirements of our pupils.

The objectives of the RE syllabus are:

• To gain knowledge and understanding of religious traditions, concepts and experiences through the teaching of Christianity and other faiths.
• To understand how faith and belief relate to the moral, cultural and behavioural aspects of life.
• To develop an awareness of the beliefs of others and to look at our own beliefs.

The scheme of work is based on the Hertfordshire Agreed syllabus for Religious Studies.

Year 7: During this year we look at Christianity, Judaism and Sikhism

• Unit 7a Who Am I?
• Unit 7b Religious Festivals: Christianity - Patron Saint
• Unit 7c Religious rituals within acts of worship
• Unit 7d The importance of food to religious practices and lifestyles
• Unit 7e Sacred places: christainity and Judaism
• Unit 7f  Authority figures and people of religious significance.

Year 8:  During this year we look at Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism

• Unit 8a Who am I?
• Unit 8b Beginning of Judaism
• Unit 8c Religious rituals within acts of worship: Christianity and Hinduism
• Unit 8d The importance of food to religious practices and lifestyles: Christianity and Hinduism
• Unit 8e Authority figures and people of religious significance
• Unit 8f  Sacred Places: Christianity

Year 9:  During this year we look at Christianity and Buddhism

• Unit 9a A life for a life? Introduction to Capital Punishment
• Unit 9b Capital Punishment: Sin or Crime
• Unit 9c Is it ever right to fight?
• Unit 9d What’s the secret of a happy life?
• Unit 9e Where does the universe come from?
• Unit 9f  Do animals have rights?

RE at Key Stage 4

We introduce RE at Key Stage 4 with the question - “What do they think about the big issues”. From this we identify the ‘big’ issues and discuss with the students the agenda for the next two years.  Using current topics as our starting ground, we have a variety of discussions, quizzes, talks, interviews, visits and practical work based on the issues that we have identified.

Here are some of the issues that we are going to look at

• Is Christianity Relevant? Gavin McKenna interview on Sky News
• Rules Part 1- Why do they exist?
• Rules Part 2- 10 Commandments- Why does God give us rules?
• UN Human Rights- What rights should everyone have?
• Why Christians think all people have rights
• Wealth and Poverty - Operation Christmas Child
• Wealth and Poverty- Homelessness in the UK and local agencies
• Christmas – What does it mean?
• Prejudice and Discrimination
• Sanctity of Life- Abortion
• Sanctity of Life- Euthanasia
• Christianity - Church visit
• Easter – Why do we celebrate?
• Relationships/sex and marriage
• Afterlife
• Nature of God
• Our identity- Bourne Identity Lesson
• Genetic Engineering?
• Environment