RE Department
Aims and Objectives of Religious Studies in Coedcae School.
Aims
Religious Studies in Coedcae School should enable pupils to:
1. Develop self awareness.
2. Develop an awareness of others and the community within which they exist and consider a response to their need.
3. Develop an awareness of the natural world in which they live and the expanse of the universe. This should stimulate a sense of awe and wonder.
4. Develop a knowledge and understanding of the Religious and Spiritual Heritage of the whole community including other faiths in addition to Christianity.
5. Draw upon their experiences of life at different levels in order to deepen understanding and acquire an awareness and an appreciation of the religious elements within a wider community with the aim of enabling them as young people and later as adults to live n unity with other people of all persuasions.
Objectives
1. It helps pupils to understand that religion is one of the deepest needs of human beings and to be aware that there is in all individuals a spiritual dimension.
2. It helps pupils to make sense of their past as well as their immediate environment when they come face to face with the problems and situations relevant to their everyday life.
3. It will foster a more balanced view of the history and consequences of religion ie Christianity and other religions world wide.
4. It helps to develop values, standards and morality.
5. It introduces pupils in Wales to the variety of ideas, beliefs, practices and traditions which form the Welsh identity.
6. Underlying all these objectives is our desire that pupils enjoy the study of this subject as well as gain from it.
Religious Studies in the classroom.
Religious Studies helps pupils understand the way in which religions respect nature and enables them to explore a sense of responsibility for the world.
We reflect on those aspects of human experience which raise questions in the individual’s research for meaning in life and which give rise to deeply held beliefs. We create an awareness of the faith traditions concerning care for the planet and all living creatures. Pupils are made aware of Fair Trade and our duty to help others.
Our topics of study are outlined below. In Year 7 pupils study a unit of Religious Studies, then, in Year 8 they receive 2 lessons a week, and 1 lesson a week in Year 9.
Compulsory Religious Education is delivered in Years 10 and 11.
Year Groups
Year 7
- Wales and religious communities with special investigation of the Church and Synagogue.
Year 8
- Concepts of God within Christianity and other world religions.
- Festivals of light from around the world.
- Worship rituals from world religions.
- Global issues and religious attitudes towards animals and the environment.
- Beliefs and actions including charity work.
- Religious identity featuring dress and food laws from different religions.
Year 9
- Sanctity of life – abortion, euthanasia, prejudice and discrimination.
- Conflict and reconciliation – terrorism and pacifism.
- Pilgrimages around the world.
Year 10
- Ethics and Media with investigations on The Pianist, Dead Man Walking and Let Him Have It.
Year 11
- Crime and punishment
- The Great Animal Debate
- Moral issues
Religious Studies for GCSE.
Religious Studies is a popular option for pupils at Coedcae.
Religious Studies is not only accepted as an academic qualification when applying for most jobs; it is also accepted as an entry qualification by universities and for further vocational courses. It develops a wide range of skills, including those essential for enquiry, interpretation, reasoning, evaluation and communication.
Religious Studies provides you with opportunities to think about moral and ethical issues and to evaluate and make choices related to them. Religious Studies is ultimately about LIFE and the OPINIONS OF SOCIETY. Here at Coedcae our approach to the subject is open-minded, modern and progressive. We encourage respect for the variety of faith systems that exist in our world.
Coursework is no longer required for Religious Studies at GCSE.
2 examinations will be sat, 1 at the end of year 10 and the other at the end of year 11.
The papers are both worth 50% of the final grade.
The papers themselves are 1 hour 30mins in length.
In Year 10 Christianity Ethics is studied.
This includes investigating topics such as Abortion, Terrorism, Marriage and Divorce, Surrogacy, Prejudice and Discrimination, to name a few.
In Year 11 Judaism is studied.
This involves an in depth study of the Jewish religion, their beliefs and practices and the Holocaust.
And Finally….
* The Department was awarded a Grade 1 at KS4 (GCSE) during the 2009 Estyn Inspection.
* Any pupil who has the right motivation to succeed can feel confident of receiving the best teaching, guidance and support possible.
* After school and lunch time revision clubs will be held by members of the department, to give students that little extra help and encouragement in small groups.