KS3 Religious Studies

Curriculum Content

Religious Studies at Baysgarth will help pupils to understand the complex multi-faith and multicultural world in which they live. It will help them to explore the beliefs of the main faith systems in the United Kingdom and the world, and give them the opportunity to consider how such beliefs help people to make sense of the world and of their own lives. The Key Stage 3 course builds on the work that the pupils have done in Key Stage 2.

In Years 7, 8 and 9, pupils will cover three modules. The modules are outlined below:

Year 7
Signs and Symbols.
Concepts of God.
Exploring Worship.

Year 8
People who have responded to a call from their God, and the influence of belief on life.
Pilgrimage and special places for worship.
Festivals and Celebrations.

Year 9
Rites of passage, looking specifically at how religions mark significant times in a person’s lifetime.
Deciding right from wrong, including ethics and morality.
Responses to ultimate questions, such as why people suffer, how was the world created and what is the purpose of life.

Resources

Pupils work from specially written booklets supported by a wide range of textbooks, many recently purchased. There are a wide range of audio visual resources and a growing number of pictures, photos and artefacts. There is a CD-ROM computer and an Internet connection available to the pupils, and the use of the computer room is built into some of the units of work.

Teaching Methods

In all years pupils will be taught in setted groups. All units of work have development and extension work for the more able. Pupils will be actively involved in class and group discussion, pairs and group work, project and individual learning as well as using music, art and drama as part of their curriculum.

Skills and Knowledge

During the Key Stage pupils will gain a knowledge of Christianity and the other principal world religions. They will also develop the following skills:
Investigative: explaining situations, looking for meaning, raising questions and clarifying.
Reflective: assessing evidence, evaluating, reflecting on experience, internalising experiences.
Social: relating to others, expressing oneself, thinking about others’ points of view, discussing, co-operating, understanding others, constructing logical argument, developing an argument.

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