SUCCESS FOR ALL

“Do not wait for someone else to come and speak for you. It’s you who can change the world.”

 

Malala Yousafzai

 

Curriculum Overview

The Religious Education curriculum develops pupils’ understanding of religion, belief and worldviews, enabling them to engage thoughtfully with fundamental questions about meaning, purpose and morality. Pupils explore a range of religious and non-religious perspectives, developing respect, empathy and critical thinking. The curriculum is ambitious, inclusive and carefully sequenced to build knowledge and evaluative skills from Key Stage 3 through to GCSE Religious Studies.

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Curriculum Intent

The intent of the Religious Education curriculum is to ensure that pupils:

· Develop secure knowledge of religious beliefs, teachings and practices.

· Understand how religion influences individuals, communities and societies.

· Explore philosophical and ethical questions, considering different viewpoints.

· Develop skills in reasoned argument, evaluation and justification.

· Engage respectfully with diverse beliefs and worldviews, including non-religious perspectives.

· Reflect on their own values and beliefs in relation to moral and ethical issues.

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The curriculum supports pupils in becoming thoughtful, informed and respectful members of a diverse society and prepares them for success at GCSE Religious Studies.

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Curriculum Design and Sequencing

The RE curriculum is carefully sequenced to move from foundational understanding of belief to increasingly complex ethical and philosophical enquiry.

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Key Stage 3 Progression

· In Year 7, pupils explore the foundations of belief, examining key religious traditions and core concepts. They investigate how belief is shown through worship and why religious places are important to people.

· In Year 8, pupils consider deeper questions of faith and meaning, including where people find God, how religion can guide individuals on a life journey, and why suffering exists.

· In Year 9, pupils focus on the impact of religion on people’s lives and decisions, exploring ethical issues such as valuing life, caring for creation, use of money and responses to conflict.

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Across Key Stage 3, pupils develop skills in explanation, comparison and evaluation, preparing them for GCSE study.

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Key Stage 4 Progression

· Pupils study GCSE Religious Studies, focusing on Christian and Muslim beliefs and practices.

· Key thematic studies include Matters of Life and Death, Marriage and Family Life, Living the Christian Life, Living the Muslim Life, Crime and Punishment, and Peace and Conflict.

· Pupils learn to apply religious teachings to contemporary moral issues, developing well-structured evaluative responses.

· The curriculum culminates in structured preparation for external GCSE examinations, ensuring confidence with exam-style questions and assessment objectives.

This sequencing ensures pupils progress from understanding beliefs to applying and evaluating them in complex ethical contexts.

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Curriculum Implementation

The Religious Education curriculum is implemented through:

· Enquiry-based learning, framed around challenging philosophical and ethical questions.

· Explicit teaching of subject-specific vocabulary and key religious concepts.

· Use of sacred texts, sources of authority and real-life case studies.

· Structured discussion, debate and extended writing.

· Ongoing formative assessment to address misconceptions and deepen understanding.

· Summative assessment aligned with GCSE Religious Studies requirements.

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Teaching approaches encourage respectful dialogue, critical thinking and engagement from all pupils.

Curriculum Impact

The impact of the Religious Education curriculum is demonstrated through:

· Pupils developing secure knowledge of religions and worldviews.

· Increased confidence in evaluating moral and ethical issues.

· High-quality written responses using evidence and reasoned judgement.

· Strong outcomes in GCSE Religious Studies.

· Pupils leaving with respect for diversity and the ability to engage thoughtfully with complex societal issues.

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Accessibility and Inclusion

The RE curriculum is designed to be inclusive and accessible:

· Content is broken down into clear, manageable learning sequences.

· Visual resources, structured writing frames and discussion supports are used.

· Sensitive topics are taught thoughtfully, with respect for diverse experiences and beliefs.

· Challenge and scaffolding ensure all pupils can succeed.

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Through this inclusive approach, all pupils are supported to develop understanding, empathy and critical awareness through Religious Education.

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Curriculum Map