Religious Education

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Description:

Religious Education is the "core of the core curriculum" in a Catholic school (Pope St John Paul II). This helps the school to fulfill its mission to educate the whole person in discerning the meaning of their existence, since "Religious Education is concerned not only with intellectual knowledge but also includes emotional and affective learning. It is in the mystery of the Word made flesh that the mystery of what it is to be human truly becomes clear. 

The Key Stage 3 curriculum focuses upon both Catholic teaching and spiritual life, and the study of other major world religions. It also lays the foundation for the GCSE course.


Key Stage 3 Course Content:

Year 7

Autumn term

HALF -TERM 1

Introduction To Our Lady’s

HALF-TERM 2

The Mass

Spring term

HALF-TERM 3

Creation and Covenant

HALF-TERM 4

Galilee to Jerusalem

Summer term

HALF-TERM 5

Christian Dialogue

HALF-TERM 6

Islam


Year 8 

Autumn term

HALF-TERM 1

Sacraments

HALF-TERM 2

Expressions of Faith

Spring term

HALF-TERM 3

Decalogue and Beatitudes

HALF-TERM 4

The Passion

Summer term

HALF-TERM 5

Christian Community

HALF-TERM 6


Year 9 

Autumn term              

HALF-TERM 1

Prophets and Prophecy

HALF-TERM 2

Titles of Jesus and the Kingdom of God

Spring term

HALF-TERM 3

From Desert to Garden

HALF-TERM 4

To the ends of the earth

Summer term

HALF-TERM 5

Jewish Beliefs

HALF-TERM 6

Jewish Practices

Key Stage 4 Course Content

Option subject: Religious Studies

Qualification Gained GCSE
Board Edexcel (Religious Studies A - 1RA0)
Potential Tiers of Entry One Common Tier

Course Content:

Course Outline:

  1. Catholic Christianity - Studied in Year 10

Beliefs and teachings: Trinity, Trinity in the Bible, Creation, Creation and the nature of Humanity, The Incarnation, Paschal Mystery, Eschatology.

Practices: Sacraments, Liturgical worship, The Funeral Rite, Prayer, Forms of popular Piety, Pilgrimage, Catholic Social Teaching, Catholic Mission and Evangelism.

Philosophy and Ethics   -  Catholic Christianity  - Studied in Year 10

Arguments for the Existence of God: Revelation, Visions, Miracles, Religious Experience, Design Argument, the Cosmological Argument, Existence of Suffering, Solutions to Suffering.

Marriage and The Family: Marriage, Relationships, The Family, Divorce, Annulment, Equality of men and women, Gender prejudice and discrimination.

  1. Catholic Christianity - Studied in Year 11Sources of Wisdom & Authority: The Bible, Interpretation of the Bible, Magisterium, Second Vatican Council, Church as the Body of Christ, Four Marks of the Church, Mary as the Model of the Church, Personal and Ethical Decision Making.

Forms of expression and ways of Life: Catholic Church architecture, Features of a Church, Sacred objects, Artwork, Sculpture and statues, Symbolism and imagery in religious art, Drama, Music in worship.

  1. Judaism - Studied in Year 11

Beliefs and teachings: The Almighty, The Shekinah, The Messiah, Covenant at Sinai, Abraham, Sanctity of Life, Moral  Principles and Mitzvot, Life after Death

Practices: Public acts of worship, Tanakh and Talmud, Private Prayer, Shema and Amidah, Ritual ceremony, Shabbat, Festivals, Features of a synagogue.

Assessment methods

Paper 1 – (50%): Catholic Christianity : Assessment - Exam (1 hour 45 mins) 

Paper 2 - (25%): Judaism: Assessment - Exam (50mins) 

Paper 3 - (25%): Philosophy and Ethics (Catholic Christianity) : Assessment - Exam (50mins)

 Key attributes required to enjoy and/or succeed on this course

  • Willingness to think and read.

  • Ability to focus in class and commitment to work at home. 

 

Resources

Key Textbook:

GCSE Religious Studies for Edexcel A Catholic Christianity.                                         Catholic Christianity with Islam and Judaism. 

Publisher: Oxford University Press. ISBN: 9780198370468