Religious Education

Head of Department: Mrs F Allen

Department Introduction

The provision of Religious Education for students is required under the Education Reform Act of 1988.

Religious Education at Herne Bay High aims to engage, inspire and challenge students thinking. For students to be able to understand our constantly changing world it is essential that they can interpret religious and moral issues and evaluate their significance. Religious Education equips students with the knowledge and skills required to answer challenging questions connected to belief, philosophy, and ethics. In addition, it enables students to ask deep and often searching questions about the beliefs and opinions of others. Through RE students develop responsibility and respect for all aspects of diversity, whether it be social, cultural, or religious. In tackling difficult questions RE provides students with an insight that can help to challenge stereotypes and promote cohesion.

Courses

In Key Stage 3 Religious Education reflects the fact that the religious traditions in Great Britain are in the main Christian, whilst taking account of the teachings and practices of the other principal religions represented in Great Britain such as Islam and Buddhism.   In addition to the study of world religions students are also introduced to atheism, philosophy, and ethics. A range of philosophical and ethical issues are examined throughout all key stages.

In Key Stage 4 students can opt to study for the AQA Religious Studies Full Course qualification. This course builds on the units that have been studied in Year 9 and examines a range of religious beliefs and practices connected to Islam and Christianity alongside studying thematic issues such as Crime and Punishment and Peace, Conflict and War.           

Click here for exam board information on GCSE Religious Studies

In Key Stage 5 students who have successfully completed the GCSE can opt to study the Edexcel A Level in Religious Studies. The two-year course covers Philosophy of Religion, Ethics and Islam. Students are required to examine a range of issues and study scholars who have contributed to debates about the existence of God, religion and ethics.

Click here for exam board information on A-Level Religious Studies

 

Enrichment

Students across all key stages have the opportunity to visit places of worship connected to the religions being studied. Speakers from a range of religions are also invited into lessons. In addition, the following further enrichment opportunities are potentially available:

  • Year 9 – Combined humanities trip to the Trenches/Imperial War Museum
  • Year 10 - The Click Prison Museum 
  • Year 11 - Ghost hunting 
  • Year 13 - Paranormal Night