Religious Studies at Bridgewater

Ms Cheryl Hemmings is Head of the Religious Studies Department.  She teaches across the Key Stages, including the GCSE and A’Level courses.   Ms Hemmings is also Head of Learning Support, teaches History A’Level and is Year 7 Pastoral Coordinator.

Mrs Sharon Minta also teaches A ‘Level Religious Studies. She is Head of Sixth form and teaches French too.

Mrs Anna Embrey teaches Years 7 and 8  Religious Education.  She is also Director of Music.

Aims and objectives of Religious Education and Religious Studies.

Religious Education enables children to investigate and reflect on some of the most fundamental questions asked by people in society today. We develop the children’s knowledge and understanding of the major world faiths. We enable children to develop a sound knowledge not only of Christianity but also of other world religions, especially those that are the main faiths of children within our school. Students reflect on what it means to have a faith and to develop their own spiritual knowledge and understanding. We help the children learn from religions as well as about religions. They learn to appreciate what it means to be a positive member of a diverse multicultural society.  As stated above, the purpose of Religious Education is not to nurture religious belief but to allow for discussion of a wide range of cultural and religious ideas.  Though we do not aim to develop a particular faith within our students, all students are taught to respect all faiths and take a healthy interest in what others believe.

The aims of Religious Education at Bridgewater School are to help students:

• develop an awareness of spiritual and moral issues in life experiences;
• develop knowledge and understanding of Christianity and other major world religions and value systems found in Britain anise d understand the global framework in which these religions exist.
• develop an understanding of what it means to be committed to a religious tradition, though RE will not aim to nurture religious faith;
• be able to reflect on their own experiences and to develop a personal response to the fundamental questions of life;
• develop an understanding of religious traditions and to appreciate the cultural differences in Britain today;
• develop investigative and research skills and to enable them to make reasoned judgements about religious issues;
• have respect for other peoples’ views and to celebrate the diversity in society.
• to recognise the importance of religion in motivating key figures in history such as Martin Luther King.
• to develop empathy skills through the study of different cultures and religious beliefs.
• encourage and develop a genuine interest in different cultures and religions which will help students develop outside the classroom and help them function successfully in a multi-cultural environment.
• prepare students for public examinations (G.C.S.E Religious Studies and A ‘Level Religious Studies)

 

Curriculum

Religious Education at Bridgewater involves the study of Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism and Islam.  Religious Education lessons include a variety of teaching and learning techniques including discussion work, games, art, drama, empathy, and extended writing.  Students are encouraged to question and discuss their ideas, and are given opportunities for independent and group learning.

Students study several ‘key questions’ each year involving the investigation and comparison of several of these religions.  Key questions include:

Year Seven

1. What is RE?
2. How and why do People worship?
3. What does justice mean to Christians?
4. What are we doing to the environment?

 

Year Eight

1. What is the best type of guidance?
2. How should Martin Luther King be remembered?
3. What would a church for all Christians look like?
4. How should Whitford mosque call its members to prayer?

 

Year Nine

1. Does the Presence of evil and suffering in the world today influence belief in God?
2. Study of the Holocaust.
3. Is there Life after Death?
4. Religion and Scientific advancements- Is conflict created?

Year Ten and Eleven

 

Years ten and eleven have the option of studying G.C.S.E Religious Studies.  This is currently a popular option for students with two groups in both Year Ten and Year Eleven.  This course includes the study of moral and ethical issues such as abortion, euthanasia, marriage and the family, prejudice and discrimination, environmental and medical issues and crime and punishment from a secular and religious perspective.  We correctly follow the Edexcel Course, units one and eight.

AS and A’ Level Religious Studies

AS Level Religious Studies is an ethics based course.  It builds upon some of the issues discussed at G.C.S.E and looks at different ethical theories and contemporary moral issues.  The department aims to provide a course which is interesting and relevant to the lives of our students today.  We currently study the AQA Religious Studies course.

This course is focused on ethical issues and contemporary society. Different ethical theories such as Situation Ethics and Utilitarianism are studied and applied to modern ethical dilemmas such as human cloning, embryo research and animal testing.

There is no requirement to have studied Religious Studies at GCSE. However, this course does provide the opportunity to build on knowledge, understanding and skills gained in Religious Studies GCSE.