What is religion? How should I live? What is truth? Is morality innate?

These are just a few of the age-old philosophical and theological problems that some of humankind’s greatest minds have struggled with and suggested answers to. Students will be given the opportunity to grapple with and examine these ultimate questions through class debates, enabling boys to reflect on their own beliefs and empathise with the beliefs of others. An important part of Religious Education is thinking for oneself and being able to effectively articulate and communicate a line of argument which takes place on a regular basis in the classroom.

“Religion is part of the human make-up. It’s also part of our cultural and intellectual history. Religion was our first attempt at literature, the texts, our first attempt at cosmology, making sense of where we are in the universe, our first attempt at health care, believing in faith healing, our first attempt at philosophy.” – Christopher Hitchens

Contact Head of Religious Studies

KS3

In Years 7 and 8, the students are introduced systematically to the six main world religions where they learn about and learn from each religion for a term.

The course enables pupils to appreciate key beliefs and practices of these main religions whilst encouraging the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils regardless of whether they have any religious beliefs of their own. The course allows pupils to reflect on their shaping of opinions of right and wrong and question morality. Culturally students gain a greater understanding and appreciation of the society they live in and the collective and individual religious practices observed, privately and publicly.

Members of faith groups are invited in to further illustrate their beliefs and practices. This course enables students to appreciate key beliefs and practices of these main religions whilst encouraging the spiritual, moral and cultural development of pupils regardless of whether they have any religious beliefs of their own.

KS4

Specification – AQA – Religious Studies (8062)

From Y9 onwards, a multi-faith GCSE course is followed by every student which is suitable for boys of any faith (or none).

Candidates are required to answer questions on the beliefs, teachings and practices of Christianity and Hinduism and then on four philosophy and ethics units from the Christian perspective. The philosophy and ethics unit titles include Relationships and Families, Religion and Life, The Existence of God and Revelation and Religion, and Peace and Conflict.

The GCSE course prepares pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life and gives excellent preparation for the A level course in Philosophy.

Both Paper 1 and Paper 2 are 1 hour 45 minute examinations and no coursework is involved.

For each religion studied candidates will be expected to: have investigated the influence of religious beliefs, values and traditions; to have developed the ability to make reasoned and informed judgements about religion and, where appropriate, other responses to ethical issues; and to have identified, investigated and be able to respond to the fundamental questions of life raised by the religions studied.

The work studied in Year 9 is part of this course and with two periods per fortnight in Year 10 and three periods per fortnight in Year 11 we can easily cover the required number of units. This course also gives excellent preparation for the A level course in Philosophy.