Religious Studies
Acting Subject Leader: Mrs R Quartey
Subject Leader Email Address: rebecca.quartey@swale.at
I am a follower of Christ... It’s not just a religion, it’s a way of living your life with love and grace.
STORMZY
Subject Overview
Religious Studies helps students explore some of life’s biggest questions about belief, purpose, morality and human experience. We aim to spark curiosity, challenge assumptions and encourage students to consider how religious and non-religious worldviews shape people, communities and the wider world. The curriculum enables students to uncover the beliefs, stories and traditions that have influenced societies for centuries. Students learn to tackle difficult questions, examine different viewpoints and use religious teachings and sources of wisdom to support their ideas.
Religious Studies encourages students to debate complex issues, question accepted ideas and weigh up different arguments before reaching their own informed conclusions. Through age-appropriate learning, students develop respect for people of all faiths and none, preparing them to engage thoughtfully and confidently in a diverse and changing society.
Through the Key Stage 3 curriculum students learn about beliefs and practices in relation to Sikhism, Buddhism and Islam.
Through the Key Stage 4 curriculum students learn about beliefs and practices of Christianity, relationships and families, religion, peace and conflict.
Through the Key Stage 5 curriculum students learn about aspects of social harmony.
Year 7
Term 1
Topic: Foundations of Sikhism.
Focus: Knowing and recalling concepts of God and foundational authority.
Term 2
Topic: Living the Sikh Faith.
Focus: Explaining and identifying identity, daily practices and key historical milestones.
Term 3
Topic: Sikhism and ethics.
Focus: Analysing and comparing ethical concepts and different viewpoints within and outside the faith.
Term 4
Topic: Sikhism and diversity.
Focus: Using evidence and interrogating questions relating to social issues and diversity of practice.
Term 5:
Topic: Sikhism in the modern world.
Focus: Evaluating and drawing conclusions by assessing complex historical events and contemporary moral dilemmas.
Term 6:
Topic: Sikhism as a personal faith.
Focus: Reflecting and synthesising by looking outwards at global impacts and inwards at personal worldviews.
Year 8
Term 1
Topic: Foundations of Buddhism.
Focus: Knowing and recalling through the introduction of the life of the Buddha and the core diagnoses of the human condition.
Term 2
Topic: Living the Buddhist faith.
Focus: Explaining and identifying the recovery framework (The Four Noble Truths) and daily practices.
Term 3
Topic: Buddhism and mindfulness.
Focus: Analysing and comparing theological concepts and different viewpoints within the faith tradition.
Term 4
Topic: Buddhism, life and death.
Focus: Using Evidence and interrogating questions relating to metaphysical questions and social structures.
Term 5
Topic: Buddhism in the modern world.
Focus: Evaluating and drawing conclusions by assessing complex ethical scenarios and contemporary moral dilemmas.
Term 6
Topic: Buddhism as a personal faith.
Focus: Reflecting and synthesising by looking outwards at global impacts and inwards at personal worldviews.
Year 9
Term 1
Topic: Foundations of Islam.
Focus: Knowing and recalling core theology, foundational scripture and the primary declaration of faith.
Term 2
Topic: Living the Muslim faith.
Focus: Knowing and explaining the physical, communal and financial practices of the Five Pillars.
Term 3
Topic: Islam and unity.
Focus: Analysing and comparing individual practice, community dynamics, spiritual and global journeys.
Term 4
Topic: Islam and identity.
Focus: Using evidence and interrogating questions relating to personal responsibility, growth milestones and what it means to hold a religious identity in a secular society.
Term 5
Topic: Islam in the modern world.
Focus: Evaluating and drawing conclusions by assessing complex ethical questions regarding gender roles, family structures and theological responses to hardship.
Term 6
Topic: Buddhism as a personal faith.
Focus: Reflecting and synthesising by looking outwards at interfaith relations, tackling societal prejudices and evaluating personal social action.
Year 10 & 11
Term 1:
Topic: Christian beliefs and teachings.
Focus: Understanding the nature of God, Jesus and the problem of evil in Christianity.
Term 2:
Topic: Muslim beliefs and teachings.
Focus: Investigating authority, core theology and the afterlife in Islam.
Term 3:
Topic: Relationships and families.
Focus: Deconstructing contemporary ethics regarding sex, marriage and gender equality.
Term 4:
Topic: Religion, peace and conflict.
Focus: Analysing violence, justice, the Just War Theory and pacifism.
Sixth Form
Term 1:
Is there true equality in the UK?
Focus: Knowing, recalling and explaining core vocabulary, legal frameworks and societal structures surrounding diversity and discrimination in the UK.
Term 2:
How do Christian teachings shape attitudes towards equality?
Focus: Analysing, comparing and investigating internal diversity, scriptural authority and contrasting viewpoints within the Christian tradition regarding social justice and other faiths.
Term 3:
How do Muslim teachings shape attitudes towards equality?
Focus: Analysing, comparing and using evidence to examine scriptural foundations in Islam, challenge stereotypes and analyse theological stances on equality and interfaith relations.
Terms 4 and 5:
How does faith tackle media prejudice?
Focus: Evaluating, reaching conclusions, reflecting and synthesising religious and secular arguments to critically judge modern media narratives and formulate personal perspectives on systemic prejudice.