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Religious Education

INTRODUCTION TO THE DEPARTMENT

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The Religious Studies Department aims to promote the academic excellence of every pupil in a caring, happy environment which is sympathetic and responsive to individual needs, aspirations and talents.

 

The Religious Studies Department strives to make Religious Studies relevant to the society in which we live.  Staff endeavour to use a wide variety of teaching methods and stimuli in order to generate interest and enthusiasm across all year groups.

 

AIMS OF THE DEPARTMENT

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  • To promote the spiritual aspect of pupils’ holistic development, helping them to consider questions about the ultimate meaning and purpose of life, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human

  • To give pupils the opportunity to explore their own beliefs and values

  • To encourage pupils to see the relevance of the Bible in society today

  • To help pupils understand, respect and relate to others, particularly those whose denomination, faith and beliefs are different from their own, thus addressing sectarianism, racism and prejudice

  • To promote understanding of the importance of moral and spiritual values and encourage the development of self respect and respect for others

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RELIGIOUS STUDIES AT KEY STAGE 3

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Year 8

 

  • The Bible

  • Ruth

  • Jesus and His Relationship with People

  • The World of Jesus

  • Martin Luther

Year 9

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  • God’s Covenant with His People: Moses

  • Judaism

  • Easter

  • Miracles

  • St. Patrick

Year 10

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  • Issues of Personal Identity

  • Choices – career, work and leisure

  • Islam

  • Christian Heroes

  • Jesus’ Teachings

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RELIGIOUS STUDIES AT KEY STAGE 4

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Pupils will have the following options in Religious Studies at Key Stage 4:

 

Either

 

N.I. GCSE Religious Studies

 

Pupils who choose this option will be allocated three periods per week in Year 11 and three periods per week in Year 12.

In Full course GCSE Religious Studies, students will study two units.

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They will take two external written exams, one paper for each of their chosen units.

Each exam will last 1 hour 30 minutes.

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There is no controlled assessment in the Religious Studies course.

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The two units studied will be:

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  • Christianity through a Study of Matthew’s Gospel

  • Christian Ethics

 

Requirements:

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  • Pupils who avail of this opportunity must be committed to increased levels of work both in school and at home.

  • Pupils will only be able to follow this course with the approval of their subject teacher. This decision will be based on:

  • the effort the pupil has shown in Religious Studies in Year 10

  • the grades he/she has achieved in Religious Studies in Year 10

 

Or

 

N.I. GCSE Religious Studies (Short Course)

 

Pupils who choose this option will be allocated three periods per week in Year 11 and three periods per week in Year 12.

In Short Course GCSE Religious Studies students will study one unit:

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  • Christian Ethics

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They will take one external written exam, which will last 1 hour 30 minutes. This exam will be taken at the end of Year 12.

 

Religious Studies at Key Stage 4 will include:

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  • In-class discussion and debate

  • Various active learning activities

  • Learning through ICT and media

 

Skills offered in Religious Studies:

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  • Ability to recall, select, organise and deploy knowledge of the specification content

  • Ability to describe, analyse and explain the relevance and application of religious ideas

  • Ability to evaluate different responses to religious and moral issues, using relevant evidence and argument

 

Related Subject Areas:

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  • Theology

  • Law

  • Medicine

  • Teaching

  • Anthropology

  • Social Work

  • History

  • Relief agencies

  • Civil Service

  • Policing

  • Personnel work

  • Management Services

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SIXTH FORM RELIGIOUS STUDIES

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We offer Religious Studies at both AS and A2 Levels and follow the CCEA specification.  At both levels we have excellent results.

 

AS Level (Year 13)

 

8 periods per week are allocated for AS Level Religious Studies.

 

The options chosen are:

  • AS1  An Introduction to the Gospel of Luke

  • AS4  The Origins and Development of the Early Christian Church to AD 325

 

AS1 and AS4 are taught concurrently throughout the year (4 periods / week each).

 

In most of the topics covered the students will be required to reflect on the relationship between their unity of study and other aspects of Human Experience.

 

Assessment: Each option will be assessed by an exam of 1 hour 20 minutes and includes a question on human experience.

 

A2 Level (Year 14)

 

9 periods per week are allocated for A2 Level Religious Studies.

 

The options chosen are:

  • A21  Themes in the Synoptic Gospels

  • A24  Themes in the Early Church and The Church Today

 

A21 and A24 are taught concurrently throughout Year 14.  In both options pupils will consider the relevance of synoptic themes selected by CCEA.

 

Assessment: Each option will be assessed by an exam of 2 hours and includes a question on the selected synoptic theme.

 

Educational Enrichment

 

  • Sixth Form Religious Studies Conference (Union Theological College)

  • Rome trip

  • R.S. Department Annual Conference (Dalriada School)

  • Israel trip

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