CURRICULUM
Religious Education
RE Curriculum Intent
Religious Education develops students’ religious literacy, in preparation for taking their place in a diverse and ever-changing world. Students are equipped with a secure foundation in theology – the systematic study of religious beliefs – and how to apply this to explore philosophy, examining moral issues and considering what is reasonable to believe.
Theology and Philosophy provide our students with multiple critical lenses through which to investigate religion, world events, and the impact on both their local community and wider world.
Key STRANDS
Abrahamic Faiths
Students will study all three dharmic faiths throughout RE at Horizon Community College, within KS3 they will study the origins of Abrahamic faiths moving onto looking at religious practices within Christianity and Islam. Students will also work on the ability to apply these faiths to ethical issues and consider the differences within religious attitudes.
At GCSE students will focus on Christianity and Islam, student will delve deeper into religious beliefs and practices and look at how these beliefs and practices can differ between different religious denominations.
Students will focus on Hinduism (Hindi) within Y8, during this they will look at Hinduism (Hindi) through holy texts and stories. Focusing on the religious practices and beliefs that shape the religion. Students will then apply these religious beliefs to ethical issues, considering the difference of opinion that appears with a religion.
Dharmic faiths
Ethical issues
Within RE at Horizon Community College, students will look at ethical issues. These are the ethical issues that are apparent to modern Britain today and effect the wider religious and non-religious communities. Students will apply both religious and non-religious attitudes to these topics, with the opportunity to express their own beliefs and opinions.
Evaluation
Students can analyse and come to a critical judgement on a source, opinion statement or view. This allows students to consider the validity or strength of an argument, and reach their own conclusions using evidence to support their critical analysis.
Students can explain how religious beliefs and teachings influence the life of a religious believer, clearly linking these influences too the impact this has for the believer. Students can reference religious scripture within their response and articulate how the scripture is linked to the influence.
INFLUENCE
Explanation
Students can explain religious beliefs and practices, with reference to their foundations within faith
Year 7
Abrahamic Faiths
Students are introduced to Abrahamic Faiths (Christianity, Judaism, Islam) and will learn key beliefs in all three faiths. Students will study the beginning of creation then progress through the key beliefs shared in all faiths including the beginning of the holy texts and religious figures.
Skills
Independently giving a detailed explanation for religious beliefs, practices, and sources of authority.
Using specialist vocabulary to support writing.
Forming and justifying their own opinion, including evidence to support.Religious Practices
Students will continue to look at the Abrahamic faiths, focusing on how believers practice their religion day-to-day. Students will look at the differences between faiths and different religious traditions, including different wedding rituals and initiation rites such as Baptism, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, and Aqiqah.
Skills
Independently giving a detailed explanation for religious beliefs, practices, and sources of authority.
Using specialist vocabulary to support writing.
Forming and justifying their own opinion, including evidence to support.
Tests of Faith
Students will continue to look at the Abrahamic faiths. This unit focuses on religious role models and the challenges they have faced. It looks at strength of faith and belief in God, such as Noah’s ark and the Story of Job.
Skills
Independently giving a detailed explanation for religious beliefs, practices, and sources of authority.
Using specialist vocabulary to support writing.
Forming and justifying their own opinion, including evidence to support.Year 8
Hinduism
This unit will introduce students to dharmic faith; students will be studying Hinduism in depth. Students will cover an introduction to Hinduism looking at the beginnings of Hinduism, the creation story, and different deities such as the Trimurti and Krishna.
Skills -
Giving a detailed explanation for religious beliefs, practices and source of authority.
Explaining how a religious belief can influence a religious believer.
Applying simple scriptural evidence to strengthen arguments.Buddhism
In this unit, students will begin to study their second Dharmic faith, Buddhism. Students will look at the life of the Buddha and how Buddhists try to follow his example, to ensure that they achieve enlightenment. Students will also explore different Buddhist practices, such as festivals and meditation.
Skills
Giving a detailed explanation for religious beliefs, practices and source of authority.
Explaining how a religious belief can influence a religious believer.
Applying simple scriptural evidence to strengthen arguments.
Sikhism in Action
In this unit students will look at Sikhism and how faith influences practice. Sikhism in Action looks at the lives of some of the Sikh Guru's and the influence of their work. Students will also look at the Langar, Golden Temple and the Five K's.
Skills
Giving a detailed explanation for religious beliefs, practices and source of authority.
Explaining how a religious belief can influence a religious believer.
Applying simple scriptural evidence to strengthen arguments.Year 9
Religion and Medicine
In this unit students will be looking at how religion influences believers on topics such as abortion, euthanasia, and different medical practices. Students will look at both religious and non-religious views, and different laws around the world. In this unit, students will have the opportunity to form their own views on medical ethics after evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of arguments.
Skills -
Giving a developed explanation of contrasting religious beliefs, supported by religious scripture.
Forming a balanced argument supported by scriptural evidence.
Evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of an argument and reaching a personal perspective.
Crime and Conflict
Content: In this unit, students will look at the religious perspectives on crime and the treatment of criminals. They will question whether the death penalty is acceptable and explore when someone becomes responsible for their own crimes. Students will look at the types and causes of crime and punishment, and examine both religious and non-religious perspectives towards these issues.
Skills
Giving a developed explanation of contrasting religious beliefs, supported by religious scripture.
Forming a balanced argument supported by scriptural evidence.
Evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of an argument and reaching a personal perspective.
Evil and Suffering
In this unit, students will explore different ethical dilemmas surrounding evil, suffering and the existence of God. Students will consider whether God can be loving, by looking at examples of moral evil and natural evil, such as natural disasters. In the second half of the unit, students will explore this from a Jewish perspective, studying the Holocaust, antisemitism and war crimes.
Skills
Giving a developed explanation of contrasting religious beliefs, supported by religious scripture.
Forming a balanced argument supported by scriptural evidence.
Evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of an argument and reaching a personal perspective.
Year 10 GCSE
Theme A – Relationships and Families
In this unit students will look at both religious and non-religious attitudes towards the nature and purpose of families. Students will look at the role of parents, importance of marriage and beliefs about divorce and re-marriage. Students will also examine beliefs about sex and relationships, such as sex outside of marriage, contraception and polygamy.
Skills -
Throughout the RE GCSE students will apply the same skill set to key religious beliefs and practices. These skills will be explanation, evaluation and the influence of faith. In lesson, students will regularly have opportunities to practice these skills and receive feedback.
Christian Beliefs
In this unit students will be looking at the fundamental principles of Christianity. They will study the beliefs that shape the Christian faith, such as the Nature of God, beliefs about the Trinity, and the life of Jesus including the incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection.
Skills -
Throughout the RE GCSE students will apply the same skill set to key religious beliefs and practices. These skills will be explanation, evaluation and the influence of faith. In lesson, students will regularly have opportunities to practice these skills and receive feedback.
Theme B- Religion and Life
In this unit students will look at both religious and non-religious attitudes towards different ethical issues. Students will study the UK law on abortion and euthanasia and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the religious arguments surrounding these topics. Students will also look at animal rights, treatment of the planet and life after death.
Skills
Throughout the RE GCSE students will apply the same skill set to key religious beliefs and practices. These skills will be explanation, evaluation and the influence of faith. In lesson, students will regularly have opportunities to practice these skills and receive feedback.
Christian Practices
In this unit students will look at the day-to-day practices of Christians, such as worship and prayer. Students will also look at the importance of the sacraments (Baptism and Holy Communion), and the role of the Church in the local community, such as charity, street pastors and food banks.
Skills
Throughout the RE GCSE students will apply the same skill set to key religious beliefs and practices. These skills will be explanation, evaluation and the influence of faith. In lesson, students will regularly have opportunities to practice these skills and receive feedback.
Theme D – Religion, Peace and Conflict
In this unit students will look at both religious and non-religious attitudes towards war and peace. Students will look at the reasons for war including greed, self-defence and religion. Students will also look at the ethical debates around using nuclear weapons, pacifism and holy wars.
Skills
Throughout the RE GCSE students will apply the same skill set to key religious beliefs and practices. These skills will be explanation, evaluation and the influence of faith. In lesson, students will regularly have opportunities to practice these skills and receive feedback.
Year 10 Core
Social Justice
The End of Life
In this unit students will look at different religious beliefs surrounding death and the afterlife, such as heaven/hell and the belief in reincarnation. Students will also study different funeral rites and the significance behind each ceremony. This topic will also include a lesson on how to manage grief/loss.
The Responsibilities of Wealth
This unit will focus on the financial responsibilities of religious believers. Students will look at the impact of charity on our world and the religious duty to donate, with a focus on the Langar in Sikhism. Throughout this unit, students will also study interest and pay day loans, and evaluate whether society should have billionaires.
What Does it Mean to be an Adult?
In this unit students will look at different rites of passage, focussing on the Bar/Bat Mitzvah in Judaism and Baptism in Christianity. Students will also consider when a child should become legally responsible for their actions and consider the different arguments regarding the age of criminal responsibility.
Religion in the Media
This unit will focus on religious topics in the media and aim to debunk any myths and misrepresentations about beliefs. Students will look at abortion in America and the Roe vs. Wade overturning, how Jihad is reported and different religious laws on secularisation. This unit aims to give students a critical lens and consider which news sources are trustworthy.
Religion and Relationships
In this unit students will study different religious and non-religious beliefs about relationships and the family. Students will focus on topics such as marriage and civil partnerships, polygamy, fertility, and family diversity. Students will also consider what a healthy relationship looks like. Students will be revisited by Barnsley Sexual Health Service (Spectrum) to recap the facts related to sexual health.
Year 11 GCSE
Islamic Beliefs
In this unit, students will study key Islamic beliefs. Students will study the Nature of Allah and other theological concepts such as the holy books, angels and the afterlife. Students will also explore the lives of the Prophets Adam, Ibrahim and Muhammad, and consider the impact that they have on Muslims in modern day.
Skills
Throughout the RE GCSE students will apply the same skill set to key religious beliefs and practices. These skills will be explanation, evaluation and the influence of faith. In lesson, students will regularly have opportunities to practice these skills and receive feedback.
Theme E – Crime and Punishment
In this unit, students will explore Crime and Punishment. Students will consider the different Christian and Muslim attitudes towards punishments such as the death penalty, prisons, community service and corporal punishment. Students will also explore the different reasons for committing crime and evaluate whether they believe any of them are morally acceptable. They will then study the religious duty of forgiveness and apply this to different criminal issues.
Skills
Throughout the RE GCSE students will apply the same skill set to key religious beliefs and practices. These skills will be explanation, evaluation and the influence of faith. In lesson, students will regularly have opportunities to practice these skills and receive feedback.
Islamic Practices
In this unit, students will explore how Muslims practice their faith in modern day. Students will study the Muslim obligation to complete the Five Pillars of Islam, including the Hajj, Salah, and Zakah. Students will learn how Muslims celebrate different festivals including Ashura, Id-ul-Fitr and Id-ul-Adha, and consider the importance of these festivals.
