Religious Studies

Religious Studies teaches about the main beliefs and practices of the different world religions and examines philosophical and ethical responses to issues. At Townley Grammar, by studying Religious Studies, individuals develop the ability to see another point of view and to understand what it means to be a member of a faith community. Students learn how a religious belief works and are able to identify the moral values which guide the lives of religious people. Religious Studies can help individuals to sort out their own ideas, values and commitments.

Students in Years 7 and 8 have three lessons a fortnight. In Year 9, students have two lessons a fortnight. In Years 10 and 11, Religious Studies is part of the ‘core’ and all pupils take full course Religious Studies GCSE, with two lessons a week and follow the Eduqas Syllabus. Religious Studies is one of the options for Advanced Level Studies in the Sixth Form and has two or three groups per year.

RELIGIOUS STUDIES LEARNING JOURNEY

Course Progression

Religious Studies tries to study religious behaviour and belief from outside any particular religious viewpoint. Religious Studies is one of the core subjects at Townley Grammar and all pupils take the full course GCSE. Eduqas Syllabus A.

Assessment Structure

Religious, Philosophical and Ethical Studies in the Modern world: 50% - Key topics are relationships, Life and death, good and evil and human rights
Christianity: 25% - This includes beliefs, teachings and practices
A world faith: 25% - This includes beliefs, teachings and practices

Typical questions include:

Do we have a responsibility to help those in need?
Can killing someone ever be the right thing to do?
Does religion cause more problems than it solves?
Is IVF treatment ethical?

In each topic the ideas and moral issues will be studied through; class discussions, role-plays, videos, debates and group work.

Advantages of Studying Religious Studies

Religious Studies encourages philosophical thinking, collaboration and independent working skills, decision-making skills, and the search for compromise and conflict resolutions.
It creates opportunities for young people to develop their skills of interpretation and analysis, evaluation and dialogue. These are vital skills in a modern workforce where communication and collaboration are core skills.
Religious Studies involves the study of texts, philosophical thinking, social understanding, ethics and develops the skills of analysis, evaluation and reasoning. All of these skills help to develop literacy.
Religious Studies makes a key contribution to understanding British values. It provides an opportunity for young people to study contemporary contentious issues, develop social, cultural, political, philosophical and spiritual awareness.

In Religious Studies, pupils learn to respect themselves and understand their own identity. Students also learn to respect others, and to understand their own and others’ rights and responsibilities. This is becoming more important as communities are becoming more diverse, therefore there is a greater need for a more religiously tolerant society. Religious Studies plays a key role in creating social cohesion and generating understanding between communities.

GCSE Design and Technology will prepare students to participate confidently and successfully in an increasingly technological world. Students will gain awareness and learn from wider influences on Design and Technology

including historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic factors. Students will get the opportunity to work creatively when designing and making and apply technical and practical expertise. Design and Technology allow students to study core technical and designing and making principles, including a broad range of design processes, materials techniques and equipment. They will also have the opportunity to study specialist technical principles in greater depth to prepare them for the world of work and university.

Design and technology is a practical and valuable subject. It enables students to actively contribute to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of themselves, their community and their nation. It teaches how to take risks and so become more resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable. At its core, is creativity and imagination, Students learn to design and make products that solve genuine, relevant problems within different contexts whilst considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. To do this effectively, they acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on additional disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering and computing.

Assessment Structure:

Written Exam:

2 hours 100 marks, 50% of GCSE
Questions Section A – Core technical principles (20 marks)
Section B – Specialist technical principles (30 marks)
Section C – Designing and making principles (50 marks)

Coursework:

30–35 hours approx., 100 marks, 50% of GCSE
Non-exam assessment (NEA):
Contextual challenges to be released annually by AQA on 1 June in the year prior to the submission.
Students will produce a working prototype and a portfolio of evidence (max 20 pages).

Philosophy and Ethics is an academic subject that is well respected by universities and an excellent grounding for any Arts or Social Science based degree course. It will enable you to develop the kind of skills which will enhance your study of other subjects. The ability to articulate idea and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses is one that is transferable and highly applicable to any career which involves communication, including Law, Public Relations, Education, Advertising and Marketing, therapy, journalism, retailing, social work, nursing, radio and TV, acting, teaching.

Studying Philosophy and Ethics helps students to develop analytical and evaluative skills. It particularly complements Humanities subjects, English and students intending to study medicine, as students learn about the ethics of medical issues.

Skills

Students will develop their analytical skills and be able to research different topics to provide reasoned explanations and the ability to expand on different points of view. Writing skills will be improved by the practice of the different teaching and learning activities.

Students study three papers:

Paper 1: Philosophy of Religion

In this module you must be prepared to ‘think for yourself’ and be willing to consider and evaluate logically the arguments of philosophers.

A number of topics are studied, such as:

The ‘proof’ arguments for God’s existence, Evil and Suffering, religious language, Plato and Aristotle on the soul, afterlife, religious language.

Paper 2: Ethics

A study of the relationship between religion and morality, A study of ethical theories such as Utilitarianism Kantian ethics and Situation Ethics, A study of applied ethics; euthanasia and business ethics, sexual ethics.

Paper 3: Developments in religious thought Christianity

A study of key beliefs within Christianity and the impact of these beliefs in the world today. Liberation theology and Marx, feminist theology, pluralism and secularisation

Related Courses and Careers

The A Level course provides a very good introduction regarding preparing students moving onto any social sciences, arts or humanities degree-based course. Students can combine RS with science subjects and go on to study medicine, pharmacy and other science-related courses. The ability to provide a reasoned well written argument is a valuable skill to have when moving on to university courses.

Religious Studies