Key Stage 3

The Bishops’ Religious Education Curriculum Directory presents the curriculum content for Key Stage 3 and the series ‘The Way , The Truth and The Life" implements that content through the three key areas of RESEARCH REVELATION  and RESPONSE. It engages pupils in the continuing journey of learning about and learning from the Catholic vision and understanding of life.

RESEARCH introduces the pupils to the area of work being studied, REVELATION leads them into the heart of the area being studied and RESPONSE leads them into consolidation and evaluation of their learning.

GCSE Religious Studies

Religious Studies at GCSE follows the OCR World Religions Syllabus and is designed to develop knowledge and understanding of Religious Beliefs and the way in which they impact on the lives of people today. Students are also expected to develop skills in evaluating Church and Scripture teachings.

The course includes a study of the Christian life through Luke’s Gospel and also an examination of Christian (Roman Catholic) Perspectives on Personal, Social and World Issues. The final examination grade is achieved by taking papers in these two areas plus a third paper examining how Religion is presented through the Media.

A Level and General RE

The AS and A2 specification for Religious Studies involves students in two areas of study: Religious Ethics and Religious Philosophy. Religious Ethics consists of a study of ethical theories and their application in the areas of medicine,war, environment and relationships . Students find this study most interesting and revealing, as it gives them significant insight into how the decisions, that  are ultimately influencing and shaping their lives, are made.

Philosophy of Religion, on the other hand, offers students the opportunity to explore life’s great religious and theological questions: the existence of God, the challenge of science, the challenges from psychology, the problem of evil and much more.All aspects of the course are well received by the students.

General RE in the Sixth Form: LVI and UVI, when possible, are time-tabled at the same time. This arrangement enables a greater variety of courses to be taught on a ‘roundabout’ system. The team this year consists of Mrs Bowe (Spiritual/Religious/Philosophical Issues), Mrs Lane (Relationships), Mrs Raffray social justice and Ms Andrea Le Guevel (Awareness of living in a post Christian society). Outlines of these courses are set out in the Department Handbook