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.