Religious Studies

Aims of Religious Studies

Trinity Academy Cathedral is a Church of England academy.

The pathway that students follow annually is shaped by an initial baseline assessment, which scores students’ prior understanding of religion based on the Key Stage 2 outcomes identified by the Church of England in Understanding Christianity. Each unit in Phase 1 is an extended enquiry, which students tackle over a series of lessons to ensure that students have a deep understanding of key content.

To achieve our aims we have broken our scheme of work down to ensure we include:

  • Clear links to the Understanding Christianity syllabus
  • Modelling and analysis of religious literacy through carefully selected sources of wisdom
  • A focus on wider world links for application.

The Curriculum

All students in Years 7-11 study a core RE programme (except CAPA Juniors in Y11). The programme comprises the teachings of a variety of religions and links to wider topics which broaden students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural education.

Phase 1

At Phase 1 we aim to provide students with a basic understanding of the Abrahamic faiths whilst challenging students with key content from Understanding Christianity. Year 7 is designed to reinforce and enhance students’ understanding of religion whilst Year 8 allows students to study key themes such as life and death, peace and conflict, and ethical decisions.

  Year 7 Year 8 Year 9
Term 1 Understanding Christianity 1 Stewardship Community cohesion
Term 2 What is Christianity? Should we care? Why is community cohesion important?
Term 3 The Parables of Jesus Justice The existence of evil
Term 4 Who is Jesus? Do we live in a just world? How should we respond to The Holocaust?
Term 5 Introduction to philosophy Modern issues Islam and justice
Term 6 What are ultimate questions? What is ethics? Why is justice important in society?

Phase 2

In Phase 2, all students completed the Edexcel GCSE short course in Religious Studies B, in one lesson per week. Students who choose RS as an option complete the full course, receiving additional lessons each week in Years 10 and 11.

Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B

Students complete the following units as part of the short course:

  • Paper One: Religion and Ethics (Christianity)
    • Beliefs
    • Marriage and the Family
  • Paper Two: Religion, Peace and Conflict (Islam)
    • Beliefs
    • Crime and Punishment.

Students who have opted to complete the full course complete the units below, in addition to the short course content:

  • Paper One: Religion and Ethics (Christianity)
    • Living the Religious Life
    • Matters of Life and Death
  • Paper Two: Religion, Peace and Conflict (Islam)
    • Living the Religious Life
    • Peace and Conflict.

Wider Academy Life

The academy values of Empathy, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility play an integral part in the curriculum for life programme and all students and staff take part in a daily 2-minute silent reflection, aimed to provide space and time for thinking and reflecting on a world event.

These values are underpinned by annual whole school events such as the whole school act of remembrance, the Wakefield Cathedral visit and Easter service. These events also reflect the academy’s religious ethos.

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