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Head of KS3 & Core RPE: Mrs S Craveiro. Head of KS4 GCSE: Mrs M Wareham

The study of Religion, Philosophy and Ethics develops our pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the religions and beliefs which form part of contemporary society. RPE provokes challenging questions about the meaning and purpose of life, beliefs and sacred teachings and how they impact practices and morality. Through our curriculum, we aim for our pupils to develop increasing religious literacy, through studying both key religious and non-religious worldviews, key philosophical debates and contemporary ethical issues.

At ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿, we also believe that RPE makes a critical contribution to pupils’ personal development and well-being, as pupils develop core values such as mutual respect and tolerance, ultimately supporting wider community cohesion.

All pupils follow an RPE curriculum across Key Stage 3 and 4. Pupils may also choose GCSE RPE in Key Stage 4 as one of their options subjects.

Please see a brief overview for each Key Stage below, or more detailed curriculum maps (KS3, KS4 Core, KS4 GCSE) can be downloaded to the left of this page.

If you would like to view related Key Stage 5 courses, please click here

Key Stage 3

Year 7

Our Year 7 pupils join from a range of primary schools, so our first topic looks to build on their experiences by broadly studying all major world religions and the significance of their sacred texts. Year 7 then study Hinduism, through the lens of one of the most famous Hindu Narratives, the Ramayana, before moving onto a topic about Sikhism and the importance of Equality in Sikhi teaching and practices. Finally, Year 7 study the person of Jesus Christ through different perspectives in Christianity.

Year 8

Year 8 begins with asking challenging philosophical questions about the Problem of Evil and considers responses from the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity & Islam) as well as non-religious Humanist perspectives. Year 8 then study the life of the Buddha, before moving to another philosophical question looking at the evidence for Life after Death. In this topic, Year 8 compare beliefs in Christianity, Hinduism and Humanism. Finally, Year 8 consider ethical issues surrounding global inequality and consider how the Abrahamic faiths respond.

Year 9

In Year 9, pupils study the most complex and challenging topics, including a specific Philosophy topic asking the question ‘Is it ever right to take a life?’ Following this, Year 9 study the core beliefs and practices of Islam, before considering Sacred Spaces in the world and the history and importance of Jerusalem. Finally, Year 9 study key themes in Judaism, before their compulsory study of the Holocaust, which is studied concurrently with their World War II study in Year 9 History lessons.

Our KS3 classes are mixed-ability and teachers adapt work to ensure all pupils are included and fully supported. We assess pupils through a range of methods including short knowledge quizzes and end of topic written essays.

Click the downloads for more detailed curriculum and assessment information on our KS3 Curriculum.

Key Stage 4

What is KS4 Core Religion, Philosophy and Ethics?

All pupils in Year 10 and Year 11 receive their statutory entitlement to RPE through Core RPE. This is delivered through six RPE conference mornings across KS4. The curriculum content of these mornings follows key themes of a GCSE short course, as well as ensuring a continued study of key religions and worldviews through the lens of the particular theme of each morning. The six RPE themes covered are:

• Prejudice and Discrimination
• War & Peace
• Stewardship & the Environment
• Secularism & Medical Ethics
• Relationships & Families
• Crime & Punishment

Pupils are assessed through a multiple-choice quiz following each conference morning to ensure retention of knowledge and effective engagement. For these Conference mornings, the normal timetable for Year 10 and 11 is paused and they have a redirected timetable, being taught in their form groupings. For more specific curriculum information, please see the document on KS4 CORE RPE on the left of this page.

What is RPE GCSE?

RPE GCSE is a popular GCSE option subject and we usually have 2 or 3 classes in each year. In RPE GCSE, we look at the big questions in life such as: Is it ever right to go to war? Is there evidence that God exists? Is Britain still a Christian country? Should human beings have the right to die?

What will the course look like?

Pupils undertake an in-depth study of two major world religions, Christianity and Islam, considering core beliefs and teachings, as well as divergent practices and contemporary issues within these faiths.

We also study four ethical themes through the perspective of Christianity, including:

• War & Peace
• Relationships & Families
• Existence of God
• Dialogue between religious and non-religious worldviews (including Medical Ethics).

For more specific information about the order of the curriculum and assessment, please see the GCSE RPE curriculum document on the left of this page.

What syllabus will I follow?

OCR GCSE in Religious Studies (J625)

How is the GCSE course assessed?

The course is examined in two exams at the end of the course in Year 11.

• Paper 1 (Study of Christianity & Islam) is 2 hours. (50%)
• Paper 2 (4x Ethical Themes) is 2 hours. (50%)

Are there any trips?

During the course, we take all pupils on a day trip to visit two churches of different denominations and the Cambridge central Mosque. We also offer an optional 3-day trip to Rome.

What skills will I develop?

By the end of the RPE GCSE course, you will be able to write persuasively, use evidence in support of arguments, and consider the impact of beliefs on actions and ethical decision-making. You will also gain critical analysis skills as well as empathy with the views of others.

What homework will I get?

ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿work will usually take the form of consolidation work including planning and writing exam practice questions, multiple-choice quizzes, and revision tasks for end of topic assessments.

What jobs or further courses of study might this lead to?

Pupils who have undertaken this course have often chosen to study a plethora of different subjects including:

• Philosophy
• Religious studies
• Law
• Education
• Psychology/Sociology
• Social work
• Journalism

The skills and knowledge offered by the subject does lend itself to many different paths.

Are there any entry requirements for this course?

RPE GCSE is open to students of all abilities with an interest in different beliefs, philosophical and ethical issues who like to think/discuss/critique. Pupils should be mindful that there is a significant amount of reading and writing in this subject but we are able to support pupils and adapt resources to ensure all can achieve. If you have any concerns, please do speak to your child’s RPE teacher.

If I need additional support, what can I access?

We provide students with a range of opportunities for revision both in and outside of lessons.  We offer revision sessions in year 11 and will provide a comprehensive revision guide to students in preparation for the final examinations. As a department we have strong links with the University of Cambridge and have been able to offer subject mentoring by trainee teachers to students needing more support. We also offer subject-mentoring by year 12 and 13 students.