Religious Education at Weald develops in our students a deep understanding of the impact that beliefs, philosophical ideas and religious practices have on the lives of people. Students learn about a range of beliefs and worldviews and critically analyse the evidence and arguments presented along the way. We encourage our students to analyse their own beliefs and actions and consider the ethical arguments surrounding important issues in today’s society. They gain personal knowledge, reflecting on their relationship to the subject matter as they go. Knowledge covers a broad and balanced range of religions and schools of thought and nuance builds through the 5-year journey.

Our students develop skills of appraisal and critical evaluation, becoming accomplished thinkers who can solve problems and make sense of the complexity of the world's religions and worldviews. They develop cultural capital through exposure to a diverse range of cultures and traditions, including opportunities to engage with sacred texts and the lived reality of believers. They develop oracy skills, using academic language and marshalling evidence in their justification of informed and critical opinions.

Course Content

Years 7-9

Students broadly follow the Kent Agreed Syllabus for RE in Years 7 and 8. This entails a thematic exploration of the role of religion in society and the impact it has on the lives of believers. In each topic we cover a range of religious and non-religious views and consider the similarities and differences between approaches to the theme. The full range of world religions are covered, though not on every topic. Philosophical questions and arguments are also covered. Topics covered are:

Year 7:

• What is religion?
• Does religion help people to be happy?
• Religious leaders
• Should religious buildings be sold to feed the hungry?

Year 8:

• Pilgrimage
• Can God’s existence be proven?
• Does religion help people to be good?
• Can the spiritual be expressed through art?
• Hinduism project

Year 9

• Can religion solve issues in medical ethics?
• How different are alternative religions to the major religions?
• Christian Beliefs

Years 10 & 11

At GCSE, we follow the Edexcel Religious Studies B specification. This focuses on the beliefs and practices of Christianity and Islam along with a range of ethical and social issues viewed through the lens of religious teaching and beliefs. Students get the opportunity to develop their understanding of the impact of religious beliefs on society while exploring and evaluating their own views on important ethical topics.

Topics include:

• Christian Beliefs
• Marriage & the Family
• Living the Christian Life
• Matters of Life and Death
• Muslim Beliefs
• Crime & Punishment
• Living the Muslim Life
• Peace & Conflict

Greater Depth

Students have achieved greater depth in RE when they excel in:

• Communicating their ideas convincingly and logically
• Evaluating and critically appraising evidence and arguments
• Demonstrating detailed knowledge of religious beliefs and teachings and using this to support clear written explanations
• Personal reflection on the topics covered and their impact on the world/one’s own life

Co-Curricular Opportunities:

• Year 7 Gurdwara trip
• Year 8 InspiREd Art competition
• Year 9 Philosopher of the Year competition
• Year 10 trip to Canterbury Cathedral
• Year 11 Church & Mosque trips

Testimonials

‘I chose to take RE GCSE because I’ve always enjoyed learning about and being enlightened by all the religions we have learnt. In Year 7, I loved making stained glass windows, and that creative side of RE really stuck with me. Studying different faiths, like Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Hinduism, has helped me understand the world better and appreciate different perspectives. RE isn’t just about religion—it teaches important life skills, like critical thinking and decision-making, which I can use in the real world. It helps me see how beliefs shape cultures, history, and even current events. I also enjoy debating moral issues and learning how different religions approach them. Overall, RE gives me knowledge and skills that will be useful no matter what I do in the future.’ (Nia, Year 9)

‘RE lessons are my favourite lessons of the week, which is a statement that if you had told me I would say as I joined Weald, I would have never believed. RE lessons are fun, interesting and extremely relevant to not only most other subjects but specifically the world today. Much like most of my friends, my favourite topic has been ‘Matters of Life and Death’ in which we learned, debated and shared ideas on a range of philosophical questions such as the use of euthanasia. RE has given me the ability to not only grow in general knowledge but also gain knowledge of others and a new level of respect for those around me. For example, our visit to Finsbury Park Mosque contributed to this. Overall, RE is a great subject and I’m so glad it was one of my choices.’ (Freya, Year 11)