The department is based within the structure of the Humanities Faculty and is situated Rooms H 1 and H 4. The department strives to offer all students a broad and balanced curriculum which gives all students the opportunity to extend their knowledge, understanding and skills in learning about, and from, the many religions represented in Great Britain The Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9) course follows on from what has been taught at primary school. Areas such as Images of God, Signs and Symbols and Religious Identity are covered and students continue to make the connections between what people believe and how their beliefs affect how they believe. Presently we are reviewing what we teach in line with the new Non-Statutory Syllabus for Religious Education published by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). The Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11) course is entitled Religion and Life and all students follow this GCSE Short Course, which leads to external accreditation. Students also have the opportunity to follow this course at full GCSE level through the Key Stage 4 ‘Pathway’. Entry to the final examination is at the discretion of the Head of Department in full consultation with parents and carers. This course also covers some aspects of the Citizenship curriculum. In the Sixth Form students have the opportunity to follow the new Edexcel AS and A2 course in Religious Studies. Students have the opportunity to investigate and learn about theological concepts about the existence of God and humanity’s response to theological issues. There is also one assessed extended essay on a choice of topic areas. Religious Studies at Frank F Harrison is taught in a non-confessional way. It is not about teaching students what to think and believe in. Religious Studies is used as a tool to help your child understand why people act in the way that they do and believe what they do. Religious Studies helps to promote the spiritual, moral, cultural and social development of students by giving them the space to think about their rôle in an ever-increasing multi-cultural society. |
