Religious Education
The RE Department is staffed by three very experienced teachers: Mrs. Golding, Mrs Pascoe and Mrs. Ross. Mrs. Golding also works as Head of PSHE within the Citizenship team and Mrs. Pascoe is a Learning Manager.
Work in relation to the National Curriculum
The RE programme of study is written in line with the National Framework and the Cornwall Agreed Syllabus.
In Year 7 the main topics are: Religious Symbolism; Places of Worship: Religious Leaders: Religious Rules.
In Year 8 we study: Basic Christian Beliefs: Teachings of Jesus: Modern Christians: Buddhist Worship and Scriptures: Christian Worship: Environmental Issues.
In Year 9 we learn about: The Bible: Christian Teachings: Muslim Worship: Rites of Passage: Christian Charities.
GCSEs available
The RE Department offers an Edexel Short Course in Religious Studies.
The course examines a number of social issues from both secular and religious perspectives. The religions studied are Christianity and Islam.
In Year 10 pupils study three modules: Marriage and Family: Social Harmony: Issues of Life and Death.
The Year 11 modules are: Belief in God: Religion, Wealth and Poverty.
Class work topicsYear 7- spring term:
The features of a mosque and why it is important to the community.
The features of a Buddhist temple and why it is important to the community.
The life and teachings of the Buddha.
The life and work of Muhammad.
Year 7- summer term:
The need for rules in society.
Key Muslim beliefs including prayer, charity, fasting and pilgrimage.
Year 8- spring term:
What is found on a Buddhist shrine.
Buddhist worship, including meditation.
Symbolism in Buddhism.
Buddhist scriptures.
Year 8- summer term:Christian prayer.
Christian worship.
A Christian lifestyle.
Religious attitudes to the environment.
Year 9 - spring term:
The Muslim belief in brotherhood.
The mosque.
Different aspects of worship and why they are important to the Muslim community.
Year 9 - summer term:
Birth, marriage and death rites in Christianity.
Birth, marriage and death rites in Islam.
The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats.
Christian involvement in charity.
Year 10 – spring term:
Social and legal changes in attitudes to gender.
Christian beliefs about gender.
Muslim beliefs about gender.
Social and legal changes in attitudes to race.
Christian beliefs about race.
Muslim beliefs about race.
Year 10 – summer term:
The Sanctity of Life
The law about abortion and euthanasia
Christian attitudes to abortion and euthanasia
Muslim attitudes to abortion and euthanasia
Beliefs about life after death
Year 11 – spring term:
Attitudes to World Development
Christian attitudes to wealth and poverty
Muslim attitudes to wealth and poverty
Year 11 – summer term:
Revision
Homework themes
In all years homework is set on alternate weeks and reflects, or prepares students for, work in class.
Suggestions for Parents
Your children’s RE teachers are always grateful to parents for their support in ensuring that homework is well done.
Any discussions at home about religious and social issues would be welcome as it will help to develop pupils thinking and discussion skills. Encouraging your children to read newspapers and take an interest in all aspects of society would also be beneficial.
There is a wide variety of websites which give information about Christianity, Islam and Buddhism which are the religions studied at key stage 3.
The most useful one for GCSE revision is www.bbc.co.uk/gcsebitesize
Parental Rights - Religious Education and Assemblies
Parents have a legal right to withdraw their children from RE lessons and religious assemblies if they have an objection based on their own religious beliefs. If this is the case parents are expected to provide the child with meaningful work to do during that time.
If you wish to discuss this please contact Mrs Golding at school.