Religious Studies

Curriculum Intent

The Religious Education department at Sunbury Manor aims to provide a curriculum that will give all students a strong understanding of the world’s major belief systems as well as allowing students to consider their own core values and develop their own sense of morality.

Religious Education is an important subject for promoting key skills that are required by all students. It allows students to develop critical thinking and evaluation skills as well as empathy and tolerance towards those with different beliefs and values. It is an important tool to allow students to explore questions about spirituality and ask some of life’s big questions. The skills achieved in Religious Education are easily transferrable to a wide range of the other subjects studied at Sunbury Manor.

In KS3, students will build upon knowledge of all six of the major world religions that they study in Primary School by exploring each of them in much greater depth. In year 7, students explore why the subject of RE is important, as well as introductions to the Abrahamic Religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. During the student’s second year they begin to study the Eastern faiths including Hinduism and Sikhism as well as topics such as Religion and the Environment. In year 9, our students complete the six major world faiths by studying Buddhism, as well as beginning to focus on ethics and morality through topics such as Crime and Punishment.

In KS4, when chosen as a GCSE option, our students follow the Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Specification B. In year 10 students study Christianity in greater depth and in year 11 the focus is on Islam. Topics studied within these faiths include: Key Beliefs, Matters of Life and Death and Living the Religious Life. All KS4 students take part in our Belief and Ethics course which allows them to discuss moral and ethical issues on topics such as: medical ethics, marriage and the family and peace and conflict.

KS3 classes in Religious Education are taught in mixed ability classes with the exception of a higher ability set and a group that requires more support. KS4 GCSE classes are mixed ability as are Belief and Ethics groups. Although we study belief systems that can be considered ancient, we keep the subject relevant to the lives of our students by referring to modern resources and any relevant current events. Lessons are always based around discussion and debate which allow students to develop communication skills in a safe and supportive environment.

Within the department we offer a lunchtime philosophy club aimed at years 7 and 8 which introduces them to some of the core ideas within philosophical thinking. We also have a link with the Gideon’s who come in once a year and talk to year 7 and explain what their organisation does and why it was set up.

Students that leave Sunbury Manor having completed the Religious Education course will have gained invaluable skills that will prepare them for the future, whether that is at college studying for A levels or later on when choosing a career. Religious Education is a subject that will prepare students effectively for any kind of role that requires critical thought as well as working with the public. For example, in law, social work, police work, working for the NHS as well as countless other professions.

The Religious Education department at Sunbury Manor consists of two full-time subject specialists whose degrees include a Masters in Theology as well as Philosophy and Ethics. We are also joined by a member of senior leadership whose subject specialism is also Religious Education. There are two designated and well-resourced Religious Education classrooms in which all KS3 and KS4 lessons take place.

 

Curriculum Overview

	Autumn1	Autumn2	Spring1	Spring2	Summer1	Summer2
7	Introduction to RE	God and the Jewish People	Was Jesus who He said He was?	Allah and Islam	Religion and Literature	What does it mean to be a hero?
8	History of Christianity	Key Features of Hinduism	Sikhism and Equality	Why is the Bible important for Christians?	Humanism and the ‘Big Questions’	Global Citizenship
9	Is Humankind ‘Fallen’?	The History of Judaism	Crime and Punishment	Buddhism and Suffering	Islam and Self-Discipline	Is there a ‘Right’ Way to Live?
Y10	Christian Beliefs	Marriage and the Family	Living the Christian Life	Matters of Life and Death	Mock Preparation	Revision/Key Islamic Beliefs
Y11	Muslim Beliefs	Crime and Punishment	Living the Muslim Life	Peace and Conflict	Exam Preparation	N/A

 

Key Stage 4 Specification

Subject Leader:	Mr Sloan
Contact:	csloan@sunburymanor.surrey.sch.uk
Exam Specification:	Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B1RB0
QN Code:	603/0063/2
Summary of course content There are two exams of 1 hour and 45 minutes duration based on each religion studied. Christianity Belief and Ethics: Paper 1 Christian Beliefs Marriage and the Family Living the Christian Life Matters of Life and Death Islam: Peace and Conflict: Paper 2 Belief in God Crime and Punishment Living the Religious Life Peace and Conflict
Assessment Paper 1: 1 hour and 45 minutes (50% of total grade) Paper 2: 1 hour and 45 minutes (50% of total grade)
What type of activities take place in lessons? Text and source analysis Research task to further understanding Discussions in large and small groups Evaluation of current news stories Practice exam questions Critical analysis of religious texts Forming opinions and making judgements
What type of homework tasks will be set? Tasks in line with GCSE questions Research task to further understanding Evaluation of current news stories Practice exam questions Critical analysis of religious scripts Revision tasks such as mindmaps
How will it help me in the future? Work in public services. Law, Psychology, Philosophy, Sociology A levels. Transferable skills such as: Understanding people and other perspectives Writing skills Critical analysis Ability to communicate opinions Logical thought processes
How will this course build on what I have studied in Year 9? In Year 9 you have studied Christian beliefs. This topic forms a base for the first topic studied in GCSE which is Christian beliefs. The unit entitled ‘A Right Way to Live’, which is studied in Year 9, will help you to understand the importance of using sources of authority in your answers. Religion and Science links to the difference between a humanist and religious perspective and also works as a base for understanding religious beliefs about creation. All Year 9 assessments are structured in the new GCSE format.
What skills will I develop? Understanding different perspectives Sustained writing skills Critical analysis Source analysis Communication skills: verbal and written