Subject Leader: Mrs A Maddox – amaddox@knoleacademy.org
Subject Teachers: Miss E Muston and Miss C Kilby
Exam Board: AQA
Intent
Our Key Stage 3 Religious Studies curriculum aims to:
- Develop students’ understanding of major world faiths, humanism, and diverse belief systems.
- Encourage critical thinking and analytical skills through the exploration of philosophical and ethical questions.
- Foster respect, empathy, and tolerance for different worldviews and cultures.
- Promote personal reflection on students’ own beliefs and values.
- Equip students with the knowledge and skills to engage in informed discussions about religious and moral issues.
- Prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of living in a multi-faith, multicultural society.
Implementation
Throughout the course, we employ a variety of teaching methods including:
- Interactive class discussions and debates
- Group projects and presentations
- Analysis of religious texts and other primary sources
- Use of multimedia resources to enhance learning
Impact
By the end of Key Stage 3, students will:
- Demonstrate a broad understanding of major world religions, humanism, and diverse belief systems.
- Show improved critical thinking skills and the ability to analyse complex religious and ethical issues.
- Exhibit greater respect and empathy for different cultural and religious perspectives.
- Articulate their own beliefs and values more clearly while respecting those of others.
- Display enhanced skills in philosophical reasoning and ethical decision-making.
- Show increased awareness of the role of religion and ethics in contemporary social issues.
- Be well-prepared for further study of Religious Studies at GCSE level and beyond.
- Demonstrate improved interfaith and intercultural communication skills.
We will assess the impact of our curriculum through:
- Regular formative assessments, including class discussions and written assignments
- End-of-unit tests to evaluate knowledge and understanding
- Project-based assessments that demonstrate application of learning
- Student self-reflection exercises
- Monitoring of students’ engagement in class discussions and activities
- Feedback from students, parents, and the wider school community
This comprehensive approach to Religious Studies at Key Stage 3 aims to produce well-rounded, thoughtful individuals who are prepared to engage with the diverse and complex world around them.
RPE in Each Stage
During students’ study in years 7, 8 and 9 we will look at many different faiths and also those without faith.
Within this study, we will look at:
Year 7
- Exploration of major world faiths and humanism, providing a foundation for understanding diverse belief systems.
- Study of prayer across different religions, examining its significance and various forms.
- Participation in the Spirited Arts project, encouraging creative expression of religious and spiritual ideas.
Year 8
- Investigation of environmental stewardship, linking religious teachings to contemporary ecological issues.
- Examination of beliefs about death and the afterlife across different faiths and philosophies.
- Analysis of religious attitudes towards animals, promoting discussions on ethics and animal welfare.
- Study of Thomas More’s Utopia, encouraging students to consider ideal societies and moral frameworks
Year 9
- In-depth exploration of the problem of evil and suffering, challenging students to grapple with complex theological and philosophical concepts.
- Examination of crime and punishment from various religious and secular perspectives.
- Investigation of medical ethics, encouraging critical thinking about the intersection of religion, morality, and scientific advancement
Year 10:
- Religion and Life:
• Exploration of religious and non-religious beliefs about the origin and value of the universe and human life
• Examination of ethical issues surrounding abortion, euthanasia, and animal rights - Human Rights and Social Justice:
• Study of religious and philosophical perspectives on human rights
• Analysis of social justice issues, including poverty, racism, and gender equality - Crime and Punishment:
• Investigation of religious and secular views on the causes of crime and the aims of punishment
• Evaluation of different approaches to justice, including retribution, reformation, and restoration
Year 11:
- Relationships and Families:
• Examination of religious and cultural attitudes towards marriage, divorce, and family structures
• Discussion of gender roles, sexuality, and contraception from various religious and ethical standpoints - Ethics:
• Study of ethical theories and their application to real-world scenarios
Examination Information
Exam Board: AQA
Qualification: AQA Religious Studies A specification (8062)
This subject is assessed through 100% examination with the two components (see below).
Component 1: Study of Religions (50%)
1 hour 45 minutes.
- Students must answer questions on two specified religions (Christianity and Buddhism).
- Two compulsory five-part questions will be asked about each religion.
- Each five-part question is worth 24 marks, with 12 marks for AO1 and 12 marks for AO2.
Up to three marks are awarded in respect of spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG) based on performance in the 12 mark extended writing questions.
Component 2: Thematic Studies (50%)
1 hour 45 minutes.
- Students must answer questions on four themes from religious, philosophical and ethical themes and textual themes: relationships and families, religion and life, the existence of God and revelation, religion, crime and punishment.
- Students may answer questions on four religious, philosophical and ethical themes or two religious, philosophical and ethical themes plus two textual themes.
- One compulsory five-part question will be set per theme.
- Each five-part question is worth 24 marks, with 12 marks for AO1 and 12 marks for AO2.
RPE Future Paths
Students can progress further to IB Business Management or BTEC Extended Certificate in Applied Law.
Religious Study is a subject which is highly valued by College and University admissions tutors or employers looking for people with alert minds who can analyse ideas quickly, explain complex ideas accurately and present reasoned arguments.
This subject would be useful for careers where taking other people’s views into consideration is important e.g. nursing, teaching and any other job that involves working with people.
It is of particular benefit to anyone intending to work in any form of business management or professions such as politics or law, or for those intending to go on to study humanities subjects, philosophy or theology at university.