Curriculum Leader: Mr S. Nesbitt

Religious education provokes challenging questions about the ultimate meaning and purpose of life. Raises questions about belief about God, understanding of the self and reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human. It develops pupils’ knowledge and understanding of Christianity. Moreover, it’s a forum to explore other principal religions and other world views that can enlighten our self-understanding and encourage social tolerance.

Aims of Religious Education

Religious Education is concerned with the deep meaning that individuals and groups make of their experiences and how this helps them give purpose to their lives.

The purpose of Religious Education is to help pupils to reflect upon the experiences and the mysteries of life and the contribution of religious and spiritual dimensions.

Religious Education should enable pupils to:

• Acquire and develop knowledge and understanding of Christianity and the other principal religions.
• Develop an understanding of the influence of beliefs, values and traditions on individuals, communities, societies and cultures;
• Develop the ability to make reasoned and informed judgements about religious and moral issues, with reference to the teachings of the principal religions and thereby develop confidence in their own beliefs and values;
• Enhance their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development by:
  • developing awareness of the ultimate questions of life raised by human experiences, and of how religions can relate to them;
  • responding to such questions with reference to the teachings and practices of religions and other belief systems, relating them to their own understanding and experience;
  • reflecting positively on their own identity, beliefs, values and experiences in the light of their study;
• Develop positive attitudes:
  • of respect towards other people who hold views and beliefs different from their own, and;
  • towards living in and contributing to an inclusive and caring community and a society of diverse religions.

Fulford has an enthusiastic, experienced and successful team of three full-time specialist Religious Education teachers, and one part time teachers. The department prides itself on providing religious, philosophic and moral education that meets the interests and needs of young learners. The department makes a significant contribution to the results of the school both at GCSE and A level as well as contributing to whole school improvement.

The students start their journey in our student area by considering ‘World Views’, their own and those of wider society. ‘What it means to be Human’ explores themes of sociology and humanism. Exploring alternative explanations for faith other than God given. As with all units in Key Stage 3, this unit is accompanied by a key terms list, homework booklet and a learning mat. The following two area of learning focus on Islam and Sikhism. The general principle to these schemes is to learn about and from faiths.

In Year 8, we start with the popular unit of Philosophy & Ethics. Students start their learning with the ancient Greeks of Socrates and Plato. This platform of the ancient traditions allows the students to engage with philosophic skills with regards to ethical dilemmas.  Students discuss a arrange of topics such as animal rights, capital punishment and international aid. Students develop their debating skills and ability to build logical chains of reasoning securing consistent lines of argument. This unit is followed by an analysis of the life of Jesus. Learning focuses on the context of the society in which he lived and why his teachings was considered revolutionary during his life and why these messages and parable hold moral, political and social influence today.

This is followed by a study of creation stories. An evaluation of the Hebrew creation story of Genesis and how this is interpreted in the modern world with considerations of natural theology. Consideration of language, analogies and science which creates a sequence of learning engaging for the youth of today. Students are invited to consider the relationship between science and religion.

Year 9 study Buddhism. The unit builds from the historical roots to the established beliefs, through to the practical applications and finishes with a review of festivals and life influences. Students end their KS3 learning with Peace and Conflict, where we can evaluate the reasons for declaring war and Christian and Muslim views on when war becomes a necessity. The learning journey for students through the Religious Studies curriculum at Key Stage 3 is enhanced by metacognition homework booklet.

By the beginning of the Spring Term students will begin their learning of the GCSE Short Course. The first of the units to be taught is Religion, Peace and Conflict.

Years 10 students will take the AQA Religious Studies short course Where they will study the beliefs of Christianity and Islam and 2 the Thematic topics: Religion, peace and conflict and Relationships and families. This learning is accompanied by a homework booklet. This resource has exam styled questions and essay writing support.

As part of their options choices, students can also opt to take Full Course Religious Studies. This includes the beliefs and practices of Christianity and Islam and 4 thematic topics (Relationships and families, Religion and life, The existence of God and revelation, Religion, peace and conflict). As they will still study alongside the short course students, the department is in the unique position to offer an additional qualification alongside this option. Students will complete a Level 1 –  Foundation Project Qualification (AQA)  which encourages students to develop and improve their own learning and performance by completing extensive research and a presentation on a topic of their choosing.

The Religious Education Department also offers A Level Religious Studies following the OCR Specification. This involves the study of units on Philosophy of Religion, Religion & Ethics and Development of Christian Thought.

Within the course students will have the opportunity to explore the works of some of history’s greatest philosophers, such as Plato, Aristotle, and Aquinas. They will consider important questions about the nature and origins of morality, and the existence and potential of God. They will analyse issues such as the problem of evil and the relationship between religion and science. At the end of both Year 12 & Year 13 students will be assessed by examinations in Philosophy of Religion, Religion and Ethics, and Developments in Christian Thought respectively.

Lessons concentrate on contemporary issues within local, national and global societies. Debate, discussion and reading are the vehicles used for much of the learning students experience.

The Department has friendly, enthusiastic and committed teachers who are continuing to improve the already high standards of the department.

Philosophy (AQA)