Religious Studies is a unique subject in that it combines elements from other subjects including History, Foreign Languages, Geography and Art.  It is an interesting and important subject which explores world religions, individuals' beliefs and the impact of religion on life.  It develops key skills including reading and writing, as well as the ability to formulate persuasive and developed arguments.

Key Stage 3 Curriculum

	Autumn Term	Spring Term	Summer Term
Year 7	Introduction to World Religions	Judaism and Jewish practices	Life and times of Jesus
Year 8	Christianity	Hinduism and Hindu practices	The life and teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha)
Year 9	Islam	Judaism and the Holocaust	Christianity - Belief in God

 

GCSE Religious Studies

Students decide in Year 9 if they wish to continue with Religious Studies.  GCSE RS is seen as a valuable and useful GCSE in that it allows students to study the beliefs of individuals and their attitudes to important moral issues.  As a result, students find that they have the ability to understand people's beliefs and also to empathise with the problems that individuals can face on their journey through life.

At Bethany the Edexcel GCSE RS syllabus is studied.  Within this there are two different units:  Unit 1 - Religion and Life (Christianity and Islam) and Unit B - Religion and Society (Christianity and Islam).  Both units are assessed by an external examination and contribute 50% to the final GCSE grade.  Throughout the course, students are given the opportunities to consider others' views and learn that there may never be a "correct" way to deal with any given situation.  They also learn to develop their own understanding and the ability to argue persuasively, using information and evidence to support their own viewpoints.

A Level

Students do not need to have studied GCSE RS in order to study the subject at AS and A level.  A level RS can help a student develop their own skills as a Philosopher and Ethicist.  It also gives students a safe environment in which to air their own views in relation to any of the arguments studied.  A level RS can help students to develop their own views in relation to God's existence and consider some of the moral issues that affect the world that we live in today.

At Bethany the Edexcel Religious Studies 8RS01 (AS) and 9RS01 (A2) Philosophy and Ethics course is studied.  For more detailed information about this course please go the Sixth Form Curriculum page.