Time allocation for subject (KS3-KS5)

At key stage 3, students receive four hours a week of humanities. This is a thematic course which covers history, geography and RE. In Year 7, pupils follow a skills based curriculum. 

In Year 8, pupils study two RE topics: Islam, which covers the basics of Muslim beliefs and how religious beliefs influence peoples’ lives; and Religious Experience which looks at how people have experienced God and explores the lives of Moses and Jesus.

At key stage 4, pupils receive one hour a week of RE and all pupils follow the WJEC full course GCSE. In year 10 pupils study four units: 

• Our World (explores ideas about creation, stewardship of the earth and animal rights)
• Looking for Meaning (explores why people do or do not believe in God, beliefs about life after death, how people experience and respond to God)
• Is it Fair? (explores issues of wealth and poverty, prejudice and discrimination)
• Relationships (explores ideas about what love is, marriage, divorce, and same sex relationships) 

In Year 11 pupils study a further four topics:

• Religion and Medicine (explores beliefs about abortion, euthanasia, transplant surgery and fertility treatment)
• Authority, Religion & State (explores the role of the state and religious authorities, the role and aims of punishment and beliefs about capital punishment)
• Religious Expression (how religious believers express their faith through worship, evangelism, clothing and symbols)
• Religion and Conflict (explores issues of war and peace) 

At key stage 5, students receive five lessons of RE each week. Students study the OCR Philosophy and Ethics course. Philosophy is the study of fundamental problems concerning matters such as existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language.

On this course students are introduced to different philosophical approaches towards topics such as the existence and nature of God, the nature of reality, life after death, and challenges to religious belief. Students also study different ethical theories and how these can be applied to a variety of ethical issues such as abortion, euthanasia, genetic engineering, war and peace and business and environmental ethics. 

Assessment 

In Years 7 and 8, pupils complete two levelled assessments during each unit of work. Levels achieved across the different units are used to determine levels for reporting progress to parents. The nature of these assessments varies allowing for pupils with differing learning styles the opportunity for success. 

In Year 9, pupils are assessed at the end of each unit and the level they achieve informs the written report to parents. 

In Years 10 and 11 pupils are assessed in class at the end of each unit. This assessment takes the form of a past exam paper. Pupils sit one exam in the summer term of Year 10 which is worth 50% of their final grade, and a further exam in the summer term of Year 11 which makes up the final 50% of their grade. There is no coursework or controlled assessment for this course and all pupils receive a full GCSE in religious studies. 

At KS5 students are given timed essays during lessons, typically at the end of each unit. Students sit two exams at the end of the AS year (one Philosophy paper and one Ethics paper). At A2 students sit a further two exams in the summer term (one Philosophy paper and one Ethics paper). 

Specific Provision for SEN (including Gifted and Talented) 

Students are offered a range of learning styles and differentiated tasks within lessons which contribute to their personalised learning. 

Resources

There are a variety of artefacts and multimedia resources for use within lessons at KS3, 4 and 5. The RE department also has a wide variety of books and journals available for students at KS5 to borrow.