Religious Studies Department
It has been another busy term for the Religious Studies Department. In September we celebrated the success of our pupils at Prize Day. Adam Webb was awarded the junior prize for Religious Studies while Amy Blemings and Ana Mowbray shared the GCSE prize. Amy Burnside was top of the class at AS level and Laura Blemings maintained her record and won the A2 prize.
During the autumn term the staff and pupils have been working very hard as there have been many changes made to the courses taught in the Junior School. The new AS2 and AS6 modules are now being studied by students in year 13 and they are proving challenging but very rewarding.
In October the year 12 pupils attended a Life Conference at the Whitla Hall. They watched a drama about teenage issues and listened to various speakers giving advice about a range of topics.
In December the staff attended the launch of the new specification for Religious Studies at GCSE level. It provided them with an opportunity to meet with other RS teachers and discuss the new syllabus for year 11 pupils.
We look forward to the new term and are busy organising activities for our Open Evenings in January.
Year 8
Unit One - Christianity
Unit Two - The Bible
Unit Three - All about Me
Unit Four - Creation/Environment
Unit Five - Judaism
Unit Six - The Church through the Ages - Nicky Cruz
Year 9
Unit One - Who is Jesus?
Unit Two - Relationships
Unit Three - Wealth and Poverty
Unit Four - Holy Week
Unit Five - Worship
Unit Six - St Patrick
Year 10
Unit One - Looking for God
Unit Two - Coping with challenges to adolescence
Unit Three - Choices
Unit Four - Martin Luther
Unit Five - Prejudice/Sectarianism/Reconciliation
Unit Six - Islam
The course is divided up into three modules:
Module One: The Challenge of Jesus
Module Two: The Christian Church
Module Three: Christian Morality
Assessment
There are two pieces of coursework worth 20% in total.
Paper 1 (Modules 1 &2) - 2 hours 52%
Paper 2 (Module 3) - 1 hr 30mins 28%
AS Level
During Year 13 students will take two modules AS2 and AS6.
AS2: An introduction to the Book of Acts
This unit explores the beginnings of the Church of the New Testament, tracing the journey of the gospel. In addition, at AS level candidates are required to explore the relationship of this unit with other aspects of human experience.
50% of AS
25% of A2
1 hour 20 minute examination
AS6: Religious Ethics: Foundations, Principles and Practice
This unit explores a number of themes and principles that are foundational to religious ethics: foundations, natural law, situation ethics, bioethics, sexuality and life and death issues. In addition, at AS level candidates are required to explore the relationship of this unit with other aspects of human experience.
50% of AS
25% of A2
1 hour 20 minute examination
A2 Religious Studies
During Year 14 students will study two modules A22 and A26
A22 A study of Acts, Galatians and 1st Corinthians
This unit explores Paul's work as pastor and preacher and traces Paul's journey to Rome. In addition, candidates are expected to explore connections in this with another area of study and other aspects of human experience. 25% of A2
Examination 2 hours.
A24 Ethics and Society
This unit explores the contrasts and similarities between religious and non religious ethics across a range of issues: human rights, environmental ethics, war and peace issues and the ethics of punishment. In addition candidates are expected to explore connections in this unit with another area of study and other aspects of human experience. 25% of A2
Examination 2 hours.
Miss P Graham (HoD)
Mrs R Fitzsimons
Dr I Drysdale
