The Religious Education Department
At Presdales, the Department’s particular interest in RE is about a development of an open-ended, ‘thinking’ approach to spiritual, philosophical and ethical issues.
This should be informed by a thorough knowledge of a variety of religious traditions, with due emphasis on students’ own beliefs. The department does not aim to develop knowledge about religions for its own sake. Religions are viewed as a response to underlying human questions of morality, philosophy or spirituality, and RE is organised around spiritual and moral questions, using religious teaching as a stimulus for students’ own thinking.
Year 7 Curriculum
In Year 7 students begin with a study of symbolism, exploring the nature of religious knowledge and the kinds of language and behaviour used to express it. The idea is to develop a toolkit for Religious Education. The year begins with a study of various examples of symbolism, including object, stories and ritual. There is a focus on symbolic stories, including fable, parable and myth, drawing on the rich literary traditions of Sikhism, Judaism and Hinduism.
Year 8 Curriculum
The Year 8 curriculum is being developed to encourage students to reflect on ways in which we can learn from the religions that we study. Each of the broad areas is studied from a different religious perspective, which will include the opportunity for students to explore the similarities and differences between religious and non-religious responses to areas of life. We look at what Islam teaches about how to treat each other, and what Judaism teaches about nature and our place in creation. Students will develop skills of critical and creative thinking and the ability to appreciate other people’s views in addition to communicating their own.
Year 9 Curriculum
In Year 9 pupils begin the EDUQAS GCSE short course, which will be examined at the end of Y10. The course aims to enable candidates to investigate ways in which religious beliefs and values are relevant to specified moral issues and behaviour. In Year 9, students will learn the key beliefs and teachings of both Buddhism and Christianity, which will stand them in good stead for Year 10 when they will apply these worldviews to philosophical and ethical issues.
