Religious Studies
Religious Studies is a popular and highly successful subject at The Peterborough School. As a school with an Anglican foundation, all pupils participate in Religious Studies until Year 11. The curriculum is planned to enable pupils to explore the places, worship practice, principles, key figures and sacred texts of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Hinduism. The academic study of religious beliefs is seen not only as an opportunity to excite students in exploring religious culture and to assimilate knowledge but also to encourage a growing personal awareness of spiritual and moral values. An important aim in Religious Studies is to develop wider skills of research, empathy, listening, oral fluency and debate.
Key Stage 3 Curriculum Outline
| Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
| Reasons to study beliefs and values | Judaism | The Problems of Evil |
| Islam | Christianity | Rites of Passage |
| Hinduism | Sikhism | Buddhism |
Teaching sessions make use of appropriate educational resources, religious artefacts and IT and make reference to news items and contemporary issues.
Key Stage 4 Curriculum
A GCSE qualification in Religious Studies is widely accepted by employers and Higher Education institutions as providing a firm foundation in an academic discipline and for personal skills in employment.
The GCSE encourages students to
- explore topical issues
- grow their understanding of the Christian and Islamic faiths
- learn the skills of analysis and presentation of a balanced argument
- develop personal awareness and empathetic responses
There is also provision for students to explore religion beyond the GCSE syllabus through an additional, non-examined, course which has been designed by the School. Topics are exciting and relevant to all and include the study of religious attitudes towards food, terrorism, evangelism, sport and business. All students in Key Stage 4 attend lessons designed to increase their confidence in public speaking and debate.
