Religious Studies

The Key Stage 3 Religious Education curriculum is designed to develop students' knowledge, understanding and critical thinking about a wide range of religious and non-religious worldviews. Throughout Years 7–9, students explore beliefs, practices, ethical issues and philosophical questions while developing the disciplinary skills needed to study religion academically.

Year 7

Students are introduced to the concept of animism, exploring indigenous beliefs about the natural world and spirituality. They also study Hinduism and Judaism, examining key beliefs, practices, festivals and sacred texts. The year concludes with a unit on animal rights, where students consider religious and non-religious perspectives on humanity's relationship with animals, encouraging them to evaluate ethical arguments from different viewpoints.

Year 8

Students deepen their understanding through the study of Buddhism and Christianity, exploring core beliefs, teachings and their influence on individuals and communities. Students also investigate human rights, considering how religious teachings and secular ethical frameworks shape responses to issues of justice, equality, freedom and human dignity. This enables students to compare religious and non-religious approaches to contemporary moral issues.

Year 9

Students engage with more complex philosophical and ethical concepts through a dedicated Philosophy and Ethics unit, where they explore questions about morality, existence, knowledge and the nature of reality. They also study Holocaust theology, examining how the Holocaust challenged religious belief and influenced theological thinking. The curriculum concludes with studies of Islam and Sikhism, enabling students to develop a broad understanding of the beliefs, practices and contributions of these global faiths.

Assessment at Key Stage 3 is designed to measure both students' knowledge and their ability to communicate their understanding effectively. Each term, students complete a knowledge test to assess their recall and understanding of key vocabulary, beliefs, teachings, practices and concepts studied throughout the curriculum. Alongside this, students complete an extended writing assessment, providing opportunities to develop and demonstrate their disciplinary knowledge and written communication skills.

The extended writing tasks are carefully sequenced to build students' confidence and academic writing over time. In Year 7, students focus on describing religious beliefs. In Year 8, they progress to explaining religious teachings and beliefs. By Year 9, students are expected to evaluate philosophical and ethical arguments, considering a range of religious and non-religious perspectives before reaching well-reasoned, evidence-based conclusions. This progressive approach ensures that students develop the analytical and evaluative skills required for success at Key Stage 4 and beyond.

The AQA GCSE Religious Studies course enables students to deepen and broaden their knowledge and understanding of Christianity and Islam, while also developing respect and appreciation for the beliefs of others.

The AQA GCSE course we deliver is entirely exam based. Students will sit two exam papers at the end of Year 11, each worth 50% of the final grade. One paper focuses on the beliefs, teachings and practices of Christianity and Islam, while the other explores four key themes:​

• Theme A: Relationships and families​
• Theme B: Religion and life​
• Theme D: Religion, peace and conflict​
• Theme E: Religion, crime and punishment​

Through these studies, students are encouraged to think critically about ethical and philosophical issues, apply religious teachings to modern-day debates, and develop their ability to understand and respect different perspectives.