GCSE RELIGIOUS STUDIES - KS4

 

Religious Studies Learning Journey

 

WHO’S WHO?

Progress Leader:  Mr L Betney
Teaching Staff: Miss A Ellis
Link Governor: Mr P Sharples

COURSE INFORMATION

Those opting to study GCSE Religious Studies will follow the AQA Specification A course. The GCSE will focus on Christianity and Islam. The thematic paper allows students to explore any major world religion allowing aspects of the course to address Judaism, Hindu Dharma, Sikhism and Buddhism. The GCSE will prepare students who wish to study Religious Studies at A Level. It will also support those wishing to study A Levels in Psychology, Philosophy, Theology or Sociology. An understanding of different religious traditions and practices, as well as an understanding of non-religious belief, will prepare students who wish to study (or work) in a variety of areas in society.

COURSE CONTENT

The GCSE will include teaching and assessment in the following units:

  • Christianity- Beliefs & teachings
  • Christianity- Practices
  • Islam- Beliefs & teachings
  • Islam- Practices
  • Theme A- Relationships and families
  • Theme B- Religion and life
  • Theme D- Religion, peace and conflict
  • Theme E- Religion, crime and punishment

COURSE SPECIFICATION

Students follow the AQA GCSE in Religious Studies specification. Click here to view the specification.

COURSE ASSESSMENT

The GCSE will consist of two papers. Paper 1 is split into two sections. Each paper is worth 50% of the GCSE:

  • Paper 1- section 1- Christianity (includes beliefs & teachings and practices
  • Paper 1- section 2- Islam (includes beliefs & teachings and practices)
  • Paper 2- Themes A, B, D and E

 

 

 

YEAR 10

TERM

UNIT OF STUDY

KEY SKILLS / LEARNING

Autumn

Christianity- Beliefs & teachings
Christianity- Practices

Describe and explain
Analyse
Evaluate
Interpret scripture 

Spring

Christianity- Practices
Islam- Beliefs & teachings

Describe and explain
Analyse
Evaluate
Interpret scripture

 

Summer

 

Islam- Beliefs & teachings
Islam- Practices

Describe and explain
Analyse
Evaluate
Interpret scripture

YEAR 11

    

Autumn

Theme A- Relationships and families
Theme B- Religion and life

Describe and explain
Analyse
Evaluate
Interpret scripture

Spring

Theme D- Religion, peace and conflict
Theme E- Religion, crime and punishment

Describe and explain
Analyse
Evaluate
Interpret scripture

Summer

Revision

Describe and explain
Analyse
Evaluate
Interpret scripture

HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR CHILD'S LEARNING

Discussing what they have learnt is a valuable way of embedding their learning in Religious Studies. Encourage your child to watch documentaries, read books or visit places of religious significance.
 

WHERE TO GO:

  • St Thomas the Martyr Church is local to the school and includes a community hub.
  • Liverpool Anglican Cathedral
  • Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
  • International War Museum, Manchester
  • Blackburn Cathedral

There are some significant pilgrimage sites in the UK:

  • The Shrine of Our Lady, Walsingham
  • Holy Island, Lindisfarne
  • Iona Abbey, Iona

There are also significant pilgrimage sites around the world which welcome tourists:

  • Camino de Santiago, Spain
  • Jerusalem, Israel
  • Vatican City
  • Wittenberg, Germany
  • Mecca, Saudi Arabia (this is a holy city in Islam and restrictions are in place for visitors)

WHAT TO WATCH:

  • News YouTube account: The Bible Project.
  • YouTube account: Mr Betney
  • The Jesus Film (available on YouTube).
  • The Shack
  • Hacksaw Ridge
  • Sally Phillips’ ‘A World Without Down’s’
  • Trevor McDonald’s ‘Inside Death Row’
  • Hiroshima (2005)

WHAT TO READ:

  • The Jesus Story: Everything That Happens in the New Testament in Plain English (Dr. W. Marty)
  • Outgrowing God (Richard Dawkins)
  • The Parables of Jesus (David Wenham)
  • Catechism of the Catholic Church
  • I am Malala
  • Biographies of Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X

 

FUTURE CAREERS:

An understanding of the diversity within religions and between religions is valuable in both personal and professional life. Recognising the role belief plays in a person’s perspective and the influence this has had on British culture, and the culture in other countries, will help students build positive relationships with those around them. A religious education helps develop respect for those who are different to themselves and helps to understand why people may think and act differently.

A religious education will help support those looking to work in religious based roles. It will equally support people who wish to work in roles where they may encounter people from different backgrounds or those with different belief systems: medicine, education, politics, charity work, law enforcement, civil service and the financial sector would all benefit from a Religious Studies GCSE.