Religious Education
Leader of RE
Miss Ackumey
In Religious Education we aspire to provide lessons which explore a multitude of religious lifestyles and investigate ethical debates, alongside philosophical questions relevant in the community and the wider world. Students will learn to confidently articulate their own beliefs and all students will be valued and respected. In the RE department, we encourage an open minded and inquisitive response to difference, which helps foster understanding and empathy in all, preparing students for their role in our multi- cultural world.
Parental right of withdrawal from RE
This was first granted in 1944 when curricular RE was called ‘Religious Instruction’ and carried with it connotations of induction into the Christian faith. RE is very different now – open, broad and exploring a range of religious and non-religious worldviews.
In the UK, parents still have the right to withdraw their children from RE on the grounds that they wish to provide their own RE. This provision will be the parents’ responsibility.
This right of withdrawal exists for all pupils in all types of school, including schools with and without a religious designation. Students aged 18 or over have the right to withdraw themselves from RE. Parents also have the right to withdraw their child from part of RE, and can do so without giving any explanation.
Faculty Introduction:
In accordance with the Northamptonshire Agreed Syllabus, approximately 20 weeks are spent on the Christianity units in each of Years 7 and 8 and 9, and approximately 15 weeks on Hinduism (Year 7), 8 weeks on Judaism, 7 weeks on Sikhism (Year 8) and 9 weeks on Islam (Year 9). This is to provide a balance between Christianity and other religions.
Topics / Modules to be covered:
In Years 7 and 8 students are taught for two lessons across the fortnight and four lessons across the fortnight in Year 9. The main topics covered are:
Year 7:
- What do Christians believe about God?
- Introduction to Hinduism
Year 8:
- Christian ways of life: Justice, Environment and Suffering
- Introduction to Judaism
- Introduction to Sikhism
Year 9:
- Christian teachings on origins, purpose and destiny
- Key beliefs and practices of Muslims
Throughout the topics students:
- Study the main beliefs of Christianity regarding origins, purpose and destiny and how they affect the lives of individuals and communities.
- Articulate their own views on questions of meaning and purpose – relating these to the opinions and thoughts of religious believers and giving reasons for any conclusions drawn.
- Study how historical and cultural contexts impact on responses to questions of meaning and purpose.
- Evaluate religious and other views on human identity and experience and questions of meaning and purpose, using appropriate examples.
Assessment:
Students are assessed continuously throughout the different units, using expectations statements and level descriptors to level pieces of class and homework. Tasks are varied to consider varied learning styles, for example, written, verbal and visual.
