RE - Overview

What Will I Learn?
Religious Education aims to help you in your search for meaning and purpose in life,
preparing you to live in a multi-cultural, multi-racial society making you aware of spiritual and
moral dimensions and confident in your own beliefs and respectful towards the viewpoints
of others.
KS3: In Key Stage 3 the specification laid down in the Havering Syllabus for Religious
Education requires you to investigate beliefs and practices within Christianity,
Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam, and enables you to learn from, as well as learn
about, religion.
KS4: In Key Stage 4 all students follow the GCSE Short Course in Religious Studies that
includes a consideration of:
• Marriage and family life. • Believing in God.
• Social Harmony. • Matters of life and death.
You may also choose to study for the full GCSE course looking at Christianity and
Mark’s Gospel.
How Will I Be Assessed?
KS3: Regular termly assessments and a summer examination will contribute to reported
progress against your learning targets. Contributions to class discussions, debates
and group tasks will also be noted towards your level.
KS4: The short course is assessed by a final examination. At the end of each module
studied, a written test will be used to report progress.
Are There Any Learning Opportunities Beyond The Classroom?
In Key Stage 3 a local church visit is required as part of a homework assignment. In Key
Stage 4, students who choose the long course will visit a variety of Christian churches.
Visiting speakers are also invited into the classroom on a number of occasions.
Do I Need Any Special Equipment To Study This Subject?
A vital necessity for studies in Religious Education is an open mind, but there are other
basic items of equipment that will also be essential for every lesson. These include
a writing pen with blue or black ink, pencils (HB or coloured), a ruler, a rubber and a
pencil sharpener. Occasionally scissors and glue will be needed for homework tasks.
You should have a Good News version of the Bible, which is used throughout the Key Stages
and is the text quoted in the GCSE Religious Studies Short Course taken by all members
of Year 11