RE is taught to all pupils at Key Stage 3 and to an option group at Key Stage 4. RE is taught in accordance with the Stoke-on-Trent Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education. This subject provokes challenging questions about the meaning and purpose of life, beliefs about God, the self and the nature of reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human. It develops pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the religions of the world and offers opportunities for personal reflection and spiritual development. RE enables pupils to develop respect for and sensitivity to others, in particular those whose faiths and beliefs are different from their own. Furthermore, RE helps prepare pupils for adult life, employment and lifelong learning. By its very nature, RE makes a valuable contribution towards the spiritual, social, moral and cultural development of all pupils.
In Key Stage 3 pupils study RE for one lesson a week and, across the key stage, cover a range of topics including:
- Why Study Religion?
- Creation Stories and the Environment
- Initiation ceremonies/ Rights of Passage
- Ultimate Questions: Is there a God? What is freewill? Why is there suffering?
- Old Testament Stories
- The Life of Muhammad and Islam today
- Worship in the future
- Religious Conflict
- Crime and Punishment
- Study of Judaism
- A range of moral issues from a religious perspective e.g. Animal Rights, environmental issues, abortion, drug abuse, crime and punishment, prejudice and discrimination
In Key Stage 4 students follow a GCSE course of study on Religion and Life Issues and Religion and Morality.