KS3

• To enable students to explore and reflect on religious and philosophical beliefs, values and concepts
• To develop higher order thinking skills of argumentation, questioning, evaluation and analysis in looking at ultimate questions
• To enable students to have a deeper understanding of beliefs and practices in more than one religion so that they can better understand the world and develop their own sense of place within it.

KS4

• Focus on 2 contrasting religions (Christianity and Buddhism).

These provide contrasting approaches to questions of meaning and the nature of religion as well as cultural differences. Buddhism engages the interest of students as an alternative approach to the one with which they are more familiar.

• The curriculum further builds on the KS3 foundation, enabling a deeper understanding of theological and philosophical concepts
• Ethical issues are explored fully
• Skills of debate, analysis and evaluation continue to be central.

KS5

A deepening of the KS4 experience via exploring theological, philosophical and ethical concepts with a focus on Christianity. Students are also required to show how these interact with each other in a form of ‘dialogue’. Themes such as the impact of feminism and atheism on religion are also explored and broaden the scope of the student experience. Further development of higher order thinking skills including evaluation, analysis and argumentation.

The two year Key Stage 3 lays the foundation in the core knowledge and skills students need in order to progress successfully into the Full Course GCSE that all students are entered for. As an Academy the curriculum is informed by the Locally Agreed Syllabus and guidance from the Diocesean Board of Education. The sequencing of the curriculum enables students to build their knowledge in a coherent way  and apply it as they progress through the two year course.  

Year 7 Overview

Students are taught the following topics in Year 7

• Is there a God?
• Why worship?
• Similarities and differences between worship in Hinduism and Christianity
• What does Jesus mean to Christians?
  • Jesus – Man or God?
  • Jesus – His life, death and beyond
  • Are the teachings of Jesus relevant today?

Year 8 Overview

Students are taught the following topics in Year 8:

• What does it mean to be a Muslim?
• Why is there suffering? How do Christianity and Buddhism deal with the question?
• Religion and Moral Issues

Starting in Year 9 all students follow the AQA A specification and study two religions in depth, Christianity and Buddhism. The selection of the Themes option for the second paper enables students to apply their learning of the religious concepts studied to areas of ethics affecting the world and to help prepare them for life in modern Britain..

The selection of an Abrahamic and a Dharmic (some consider non-theistic) religion is deliberate. These two worldviews provide contrasting approaches to questions of meaning and the nature of religion as well as cultural differences. Buddhism engages the interest of students as an alternative approach to Christianity, which they are more familiar with as the main religious tradition in Britain.

• The curriculum further builds on the KS3 foundation, enabling a deeper understanding of theological and philosophical concepts such as belief and worship
• Ethical issues are explored fully particularly in the four Themes studied
• Skills of debate, analysis and evaluation continue to be central particularly in developing students ability to write an extended argument in the 12 mark questions.

GCSE Overview

Students are taught the following topics in Years 9 to 11:

All students follow a three-year course leading to a Full Religious Studies GCSE qualification.

Students learn how religion, philosophy and ethics form the basis of our culture, and are challenged with questions about belief, values, meaning, purpose and truth, enabling them to develop their own attitudes towards religious issues. They develop analytical and critical thinking skills, the ability to work with abstract ideas, leadership and research skills. All these skills will help prepare them for further study

They explore the beliefs, teachings and practices of Christianity and Buddhism in detail.

They also study four themes:

• Religion, peace and conflict
• Religion and Life, including abortion, euthanasia and animal experiments
• Relationships and families
• Religion, crime and punishment

A deepening of the KS4 experience via exploring theological, philosophical and ethical concepts with a focus on Christianity. Students are also required to show how these areas interact with each other in a form of ‘dialogue’. Themes such as the impact of feminism and atheism on religion are also explored and broaden the scope of the student experience. Further development of higher order thinking skills including evaluation, analysis and argumentation.

A-Level Overview

Students are taught the following topics in Years 12 and 13:

The course features a variety of relevant and contemporary themes, to help inspire engaging classroom discussion. Students will also gain critical and evaluative skills sought after by higher education and employers, particularly in law, education, social work, politics, medicine, administration and the media. Religious studies is a thought-provoking subject, and the contemporary themes inspire engaging classroom discussion.

The course consists of:

Philosophy of Religion and Ethics: exploring a range of ethical issues such as medical ethics and animal rights as well as some of the arguments for and against the existence of God

A Study of Christianity: analysing such theological issues as beliefs about life after death, a literal or non-literal approach to the Bible, and what is meant by God.

• Across Key Stages 3 & 4, students experience visits to a number of places of worship. This develops an experiential insight into religious practices.  Visits include the parish church of St Michael and All Angels Church, as well as Christchurch Cathedral in Oxford. After the pandemic the intent is to restart visits to the Oxford Central Mosque and the Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in Hemel Hempstead.
• At Sixth Form, the students attend a conference focused on A Level philosophical, ethical and theological topics.  This is an opportunity to broaden and deepen their understanding.

• High Prior Attainers follow the Oxplore website and programme which allows them to deepen their knowledge of religion and philosophy while developing their skills of critical analysis and evaluation.
• Joint work with Science and the University of Oxford facilitates deeper exploration of Big Questions.
• At GCSE and A Level High Prior Attainers are directed towards resources which stretch and challenge them including, TED Talks, Books, Blogs and MOOCs.
• Students are invited to join the all-age Philosophy Club each Tuesday lunchtime in the library.