All pupils study Religious Education as a core subject. We seek to support our pupils spiritually on life’s journey as they learn about Christ, his teachings and Church. Pupils are encouraged to analyse and evaluate their own beliefs, attitudes, values and opinions in order to develop academically, spiritually, socially, morally and emotionally.  

We have adopted the Lancaster Diocese HRSE policy which you can download and read below.  We welcome any comments you may have on this policy. Please email the school office with any suggested changes or comments , FAO Mr Forrester who is responsible for this policy.  If you wish to withdraw your child from any lessons which cover the HRSE content then please inform their Head of Year.  This does not apply to statutory Science lessons.  HRSE is taught across all subjects, not just RE, as content this important is a whole school issue. 

Pupils begin their secondary school RE by looking at the life and times of Cardinal John Henry Newman. Pupils then start The Way, The Truth and The Life (WTL) programme of study, which is the approved programme of study for Catholic schools in England. Further details about the Key Stage 3 programme including sample lessons and resources can be found at http://www.tere.org/

 

1. Revelation & Faith
2. God’s Promises Fulfilled
3. The Saviour
4. The Church
5. The Sacraments
6. Christianity & Other Faiths

Pupils follow The Truth which consists of the following topics.

 

1. Creation
2. The Covenant
3. Mystery of the Eucharist
4. The Paschal Mystery
5. Mission of the Church
6. The Church in Britain

Pupils start the Year by following The Life which consists of the topic areas listed below.

1. Spiritual Quest
2. The Gospels
3. Life in the Spirit
4. God’s Call
5. Morality & Conscience
6. Dialogue with Other Faiths
7. Introduction to Judaism

 

Pupils follow the Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies course pathway A. Pupils sit three exams the weightings of which are detailed below. Year 10 current focuses on Judaism and Catholic Christianity, whilst Year 11 focuses on completion of the Catholic Christianity unit and Catholic philosophy and ethics.

Firstly pupils study the Judaism unit the Catholic Christianity unit in Year 10 and the Catholic philosophy unit in Year 11. This programme of study is, as now, interspersed with exam technique, assessment and some revision.

 Area of study 1 – Catholic Christianity (50%)

• Beliefs and teachings (The Trinity, Bible, Creation, Humanity, Incarnation, Paschal Mystery, Eschatology)
• Practices (Sacraments, Liturgical worship, funeral rites, prayer, popular piety, pilgrimage, social teaching, evangelism)
• Sources of wisdom and authority (Bible, Interpretation of the Bible, magisterium, Vatican II, Body of Christ, Four Marks of the Church, Mary)
• Forms of expression and ways of life (church architecture, sacred objects, artwork in Catholicism, sculpture and statues, religious art, drama, music)

 Area of study 2 – Judaism (25%)

• Beliefs and teachings (Almighty, Shekihinah, Messiah, Sinai, Abraham, sanctity of life, moral principles and the Mitzvot, life after death)
• Practices (worship, Tenakh, Talmud, private prayer, Shema and Amidah, ritual and ceremony, Shabbat, festivals)

Area of study 3 – Catholic philosophy and ethics (25%)

• Arguments for the existence of God (revelation, miracles, experiences, design, suffering, solutions)
• Religious teachings on relationships an families in the 21^st century (marriage, sexual relationships, family, divorce, annulment and marriage, equality, gender prejudice)

 Further details on the course, including specification and past papers, can be found at: https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/religious-studies-a-2016.html

 

All pupils in Sixth Form work towards the EPQ qualification taught in one hour a week. This is a research project with a moral and ethical dimension. This involves them choosing an area of independent study which they focus on to produce a dissertation and a presentation on the process of their study.  The qualification prepares for Higher Education and future employment as pupils take ownership of their organisation and problem-solving to arrive at a finished piece of work.