OVERVIEW

Religious Studies at Harris Church of England Academy aims to engage students in systematic enquiry into significant human questions which religion and worldviews address, so that they can develop the understanding and skills needed to appreciate and appraise varied responses to these questions, as well as develop responses of their own.  

Our curriculum is and based on the Warwickshire Agreed Syllabus utilising aspects of the ‘Understanding Christianity’ scheme of work. Our curriculum is diverse and will give students the opportunity to explore and reflect upon different religions and worldviews, as well as encouraging an exploration of their own spirituality and beliefs.  Religious Studies at Harris will give students a safe place in which to discuss, debate and evaluate big life questions, as well as introduce them to the skills and methods required to question and evaluate the world around them. 

KS3 CURRICULUM

Our KS3 curriculum interweaves three disciplines; Theology, Philosophy and Human/Social Science. This provides our students with an engaging, relevant and challenging approach to Religious Studies.  Each unit addresses a big question, such as ‘does religion help people to be good?’ (Year 7, term 3) and allows students to explore the ethical and moral questions raised, as well as delving into the history and Theology from which current religious beliefs have grown.  Students will also study how religious beliefs and other worldviews are put into practice in the lives of believers and non-believers alike.  Students will engage with topics that are relevant to their lives and empower them with the education and skills needed to become good citizens of our world.  

KS4 CURRICULUM

All students from year 9-11 are entered for full course GCSE Religious Studies. We follow the AQA GCSE Religious Studies A course.

Students are required to study four themes including relationships and families, religion and life, crime and punishment and human rights and social justice. Students will also study the beliefs and practices of Christians and Jewish people. The GCSE exam course places emphasis on the diversity within and between religions, sources of moral authority and gaining a deeper understanding into how theological beliefs and teachings apply to modern day ethical dilemmas.

THE HARRIS VALUES AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES

Religious Studies makes a significant contribution to both the spiritual, moral, social and cultural education and the Christian Distinctiveness of Harris Church of England Academy. We encourage students to think about others and the part we as individuals play in the world in order to ‘do good to all’ (Galatians 6:10).

We do this as part of the curriculum in studying religion and the impact on the individual, but we also consider some thought provoking and difficult topics e.g. death and the afterlife, as well as considering our responsibility to others in all parts of the world.

Religious Studies contributes to the character development of all our students and will encourage them to develop spiritually and to work with each other to build a community of shared values and to discover life in all its fullness (John 10:10).