RE
RE at Smithdon High School aims to prepare all students for a life in a culturally diverse modern world.
Students at Smithdon will explore big questions about life, find out what people believe, and what difference this makes to how they live. It will help students make sense of religion and belief, reflecting on their own ideas and ways of living. Students are then equipped with understanding of a range of religious and non-religious worldviews.
These days, issues of religion and belief frequently top the news agenda and the RE curriculum helps students to navigate and understand them. Our curriculum encourages students growing up in a diverse society to understand the varied views and opinions of people whose beliefs and values differ from their own: promoting not just tolerance but genuine understanding and respect for other people.
RE at Smithdon provides a safe space for students to reflect on their own ideas and develop their thoughts about questions of meaning and ethics such as:
- Who am I?
- Why are we here?
- What will give us courage and love in life?
- Why are some people very committed to their religions and others not at all?
Through the RE curriculum, students are equipped to handle issues in their own lives, preparing them for the workplace and adult life in modern, diverse Britain.
RE teachers
Mrs E. Fysh – Head of Department
Mr A. Duncan
Key Stage 3 RE
|
Topic 1 |
Topic 2 |
Topic 3 |
Year 7 |
Introduction to world religions and rule systems |
Rites of passage |
Holy Books and festivals |
Year 8 |
Prejudice and discrimination |
Religion, War and Peace |
Creation and the environment |
Year 9 |
Religion, crime and punishment |
Philosophy of religion – Does God exist? |
Ethics and religion |
GCSE RE
The department follows the AQA Religious Studies A specification which has two written exams:
- Paper 1:
A study of world religions: Christianity and Islam (50% of the exam)
1 hour and 45 minutes exam.
- Paper 2:
Thematic Studies (50% of the exam)
1 hour and 45 minutes exam.
The aim of the RE GCSE is to build on the skills the students have developed during Key Stage 3, such as evaluating moral arguments and understanding issues from several points of view.
The topics covered are divided into the following two categories:
- A study of Christianity and Islam
- Religious, philosophical and ethical studies
Year 10 Study
Topic 1 |
Topic 2 |
Topic 3 |
Topic 4 |
Christianity: Beliefs and teachings |
Christianity: Practices |
Islam: Beliefs and teachings |
Islam: Practices |
Year 11 topics
Topic 1 |
Topic 2 |
Topic 3 |
Topic 4 |
Theme A: Relationships and families |
Theme B: Religion and life |
Theme E: Religion, crime and punishment |
Theme F: Religion, human rights, and social justice |