Religious Education – KS3

Course Description

Religious Education is the study of beliefs and practices that underpin religious tradition, in particular, focusing on the Roman Catholic tradition. At its heart lies the notion of ‘love your neighbour’ and identifying how we are all made in God’s image. Religious Education is an academic subject, and where possibilities arise it can be practical on occasion where creativity and investigation are encouraged. Students are provoked into asking challenging questions about the ultimate meaning and purpose of life, beliefs about God, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human. Religious Education develops students’ knowledge and understanding of Roman Catholic Christianity primarily and selected world religions. If offers opportunities for personal reflection and spiritual development. It enhances student’s awareness and understanding of religions and beliefs, practices and forms of expression, as well as of the influence of religion on individuals, families, communities and cultures.

 

Course Objectives

  • Understand different views and perspectives, making comparisons to students’ own belief system.
  • Actively encourages students to learn from different religions, beliefs and traditions whilst exploring their own perspectives, beliefs and questions of meaning.
  • It challenges students to reflect on, considers, analyses interprets and evaluate issues of truth, belief, faith and ethics to communicate their responses.
  • Encourages students to develop their sense of identity and belonging.
  • Enables students to flourish individually within their communities and as citizens in a pluralistic society and global community.
  • Religious education has an important role in preparing students for adult life, employment and lifelong learning.
  • Enables students to develop respect for and sensitivity to others, in particular, those whose faiths and beliefs are different from their own important skill within the modern world.

Course Content

Year 7

Advent – Belonging & Community
Lent – Lenten Journey
Pentecost – Exploring Faith
Belonging & Community

Church & Kingdom of God

Abraham

David

Baptism

John The Baptist

Early Childhood of Jesus

Annunciation & Christmas
The Bible

The Lost Son

Parable of the Talents

Prayer

Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Mission of Jesus

Vocation

Holy Week

 

Resurrection & Pentecost

Hinduism

Creation stories

RSE

Early Church & Symbols

Council of All Beings

Spirited Arts
Year 8

Advent – History of our faith
Lent – Healing and Forgiveness
Pentecost – The Church in Britain
The Reformation

Creation

Covenant

Noah

Moses

The Eucharist

Ecumenism

Incarnation

Islam

Gospels & CAFOD / Stewardship

Sacrament of the Sick

The Sheep & The Goats

Conscience & Moral Choices

The Good Samaritan

Redemption

Holy Week
Judaism

Reconciliation

Church in Britain

Church Buildings

Taize

Trinity

Pilgrimage

Marriage/Relationships and Families

 

Assessment

Students are routinely assessed through assessments and mini-assessments using the school’s AWL system. These mirror the GCSE exam format, which prepares students well in advance for some of the demands of the new GCSE Religious Studies course which is a core subject at Holy Family. Teachers give thorough feedback on all assessed pieces of work; students then improve their work based on these comments in order to strengthen their performance and progress over time.