Religious Education provides pupils with the opportunity to explore the major responses, religious and otherwise to life’s biggest questions. In each year students will look at alternating religions and ethical issues and be able to relate these back to the religions that they have already learnt.
By studying RE students will look at challenging questions about the meaning and purpose of life, beliefs, issues of right and wrong and will challenge their own opinions on ethical issues. The religious education curriculum is ambitious as it incorporates both the Barnet curriculum and the major world religions for students to have an excellent foundation for further study. There are also GCSE style exam questions interwoven into the majority of lessons and there are opportunities for students to be assessed using this type of assessment.
Students are encouraged to attend the eco-committee which is a club created with the main aim of stewardship in mind and students are provided with the opportunity particularly during the teaching of religious units to visit places of worship. E.g. year 9 will be studying Islam in January and will be attending a Mosque.
Students are encouraged to take RE at GCSE level with expert teachers delivering the content.
Impact
- Having an effective religious education curriculum will allow the students of Clarion to come into contact with the world of religion, but should not take them over the threshold into encouraging or discouraging the practice of faith. The purpose of the curriculum is to support whole-person development in its broadest sense with students being able to learn about religions (beliefs, teachings, practices and forms of expression) and from religion (identity, belonging, meaning, purpose, truth and values).
Implementation
- Regular assessment is provided at the end of most units (this is due to students receiving 1 hour of RE a week) with timely feedback for both teacher and student to see the gaps in learning. Teachers will then either provide whole class feedback or specific feedback for each students, using *TA, which allows students to see where they could improve their work. This allows an episode of reteaching carried about the class teacher to cover any misconceptions and errors and therefore close the assessment loop.
Academic Journey - KS3
Year 7 |
|
| Half Term 1 | Half Term 2 |
| What religions are represented at our school? | Hinduism |
| Half Term 3 | Half Term 4 |
| Religion and the environment | Judaism |
| Half Term 5 | Half Term 6 |
| Ethics | Islam |
Year 8 |
|
| Half Term 1 | Half Term 2 |
| Rights and Responsibilites | Buddhism |
| Half Term 3 | Half Term 4 |
| Science and Religion | Sikhism |
| Half Term 5 | Half Term 6 |
| Christianity | Humanism |
Year 9 |
|
| Half Term 1 | Half Term 2 |
| Christianity | Ethics |
| Half Term 3 | Half Term 4 |
| Islam | Non-religious world-views |
| Half Term 5 | Half Term 6 |
| World religions | Meanings, Purpose and Truth |
Academic Journey - KS4
Year 10 |
|
| Half Term 1 - 2 | Half Term 3 - 4 |
| Christian Beliefs | Muslim Beliefs |
| Half Term 5 | Half Term 6 |
| Philosophy of Religion | Matters of Life and Death |
Year 11 |
|
| Half Term 1 | Half Term 2 |
| Equality | Marriage and Family |
| Half Term 3 | Half Term 4 |
| Living the Christian Life | Living the Muslim Life |
Extra Curricular Activities
KS3 and KS4 - Debate Mate
Trips
KS3 - Swaminarayan Temple
KS4 - Westminster Cathedral
Useful Links
Extended Reading List
'The Religions Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained' by DK Publishing
A visually appealing introduction to major world religions, their beliefs, practices, and histories, perfect for exploring the KS3 curriculum's focus on diverse faiths.
'Sophie's World' by Jostein Gaarder
An engaging novel that introduces students to the history of philosophy, encouraging critical thinking about life's big questions.
'The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe' by C.S. Lewis
This allegorical story can prompt discussions on Christian symbolism, good versus evil, and moral decision-making.
'A Little History of Religion' by Richard Holloway
A concise and accessible overview of the world’s religions, from ancient beliefs to modern practices.
'I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World' by Malala Yousafzai
This autobiography highlights themes of faith, courage, and equality, encouraging discussions on Islam and social justice.
'The Qur’an: A New Translation' by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem
An approachable translation of the Qur’an, helping students understand Islamic teachings and their significance.
'Wonder' by R.J. Palacio
This novel explores themes of kindness, empathy, and morality, encouraging reflection on ethical issues and human behaviour.
'The Bhagavad Gita' (Translated by Eknath Easwaran)
A key Hindu scripture that introduces ideas about duty, ethics, and the nature of life.
'Goodnight Mister Tom' by Michelle Magorian
This classic novel touches on themes of compassion, healing, and the impact of war, prompting discussions on moral and spiritual resilience.
'The Lord of the Rings' by J.R.R Tolkein
This novel covers themes of sacrifice, hope, and the battle between good and evil, which parallel Christian concepts of redemption, moral integrity, and divine providence.
