Departments - Religious Education

Welcome to the Religious Education Department



Fides Mundum Vincit


Faith Conquers the World


PRAYER FOR ST. CUTHBERT’S CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL


Father in heaven

This is our school

Let peace dwell here

Let it be full of contentment

Let love abide here

Love of one another

Love of mankind

Love of life itself

And love of God

Let us live life to the full

We ask this through Jesus Christ Our Lord

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit

One God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Welcome to the Religious Education Department.


R.E. is an integral part of school life, and Catholic / Christian precepts and spirituality permeate all areas of the curriculum and organisation in our school. The R.E. department aims to provide the lead, in both example and provision of resources, in spiritual, religious, moral, cultural and social development of all pupils. It also seeks to cooperate and support other departments, curricular and pastoral, including the chaplaincy, in order to achieve this task.

In line with the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle guidelines, R.E seeks to fulfil the requirement of our pupils to receive excellent Religious Education in the knowledge that Every Child Matters and the school motto - Quies in Cælo

(Our Rest is in Heaven)

The following areas of school life are particularly relevant to the RE Dept and in our care:

Curriculum R.E


Religious Celebrations / Liturgy / Collective Worship

Chaplaincy


Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development


Citizenship/PHSRE


Aim of the Department


Religious Education in St. Cuthbert’s will involve pupils in two journeys: an outward journey which discovers the role of religion, particularly Christianity within the Catholic tradition, in our society and most significantly and importantly, an inner journey towards maturity, the deepening of their spiritual lives and the commitment to their own faith.


Department staff

P. Collins Head of Dept / Assistant Head teacher


C. Mc Diarmid Assistant Head of Department / CPD Coordinator


P. Johnson In charge of sixth form RE


N. Mc Ternan In charge of sixth form RE


R. Fawdon In charge of year 7 & 8 RE


H. Lowerson Teacher of English


L. Egan Vocational Studies Director


Learning and Teaching

Teaching Groups

Key Stage 3 Pupils are taught in their tutor groups A – G


Key Stage 4 Initially, in year 10, pupils are taught in their tutor groups. After the January exam pupils will then be placed in one of five sets in the alpha band and one of three sets in the beta band. Further set movements may take place after pupils receive their GSCE module result in August and they enter year 11.

 

Key stage 5 All pupils will seek certification of General R.E through the General Studies A level. Pupils are taught in their tutor groups. A level Religious Studies grouping are mixed ability classes.
 

Time Allocation

The school endeavours to provide pupils with the time requested by the Bishops of England and Wales i.e. 10% of the curriculum in Key Stage 4 and 5 and 5% of the curriculum in Key stage 5.

Key stage 3 all pupils receive 5 hours per fortnight of a 50 period week, except in year 9 alpha band where they receive 4 hours per fortnight. (This will allow pupils to take a second language)

Key stage 4 all pupils receive 5 hours per fortnight

Key stage 5 all pupils receive 2 hours of General R.E per fortnight

Advanced level pupils receive 5 hours per fortnight.

Teaching Rooms

The RE dept has three specialist faculty areas in the school.

Lower School provision includes 2 specialist classrooms

Upper school provision includes 4 specialist classrooms for Key stage 4 pupils and 1 specialist classroom for Key stage 5. All classrooms are equipped with PC’s linked to the internet and intranet, data projectors, whiteboards, TV dvd facilities, hi-fi, and generous storage space. One room is equipped with 7 PC’S and these will soon increase in number allowing the department to have an IT suite in the upper school.

Key Stage Three Assessment

St. Cuthbert’s follow the assessment criteria as laid down by Bishops’ Conference Department for Catholic Education and Formation

http://www.cesew.org.uk/standard.asp?id=5265

Levels of Attainment in Religious Education in Catholic Schools and Colleges


Pupils are formally assessed five times a year. After each assessment pupils will record their level achieved (predicted level) and be made aware of their target level (the level that all things being equal they could possibly achieve). Pupils will be directed as to how they can progress to their next level.

Level descriptors are displayed in the classrooms and in each pupil’s exercise book.

Three of the five assessments will be formative. These are currently being developed and they will show where the pupils are and they will help plan for further progression to be made.

Two other assessments will be summative and they will be taken in line with the whole school assessment policy: formal examination in January and June. Movement between the streams will be dependant upon an aggregate score and teacher recommendations with other subjects being studied.

The marks achieved in the examination will be converted to a level; sub levels will be awarded by the class teacher.

In addition pupils will be continually assessed throughout the year through the marking of exercise books and observing pupil response/participation during lessons.



NBRIA Levels of Attainment


According to guidance issued by the QCA, in the National Curriculum:

  • most children at the end of the Foundation Phase/Key Stage 1 will reach Level 2

  • most children at the end of Key Stage 2 will reach Level 4

  • most children at the end of Key Stage 3 will reach Levels 5/6

Bearing in mind the eventual outcomes at the end of Key Stage 4, this means that (in very, very general terms) in Catholic Religious Education :

 

  • By the end of the Foundation Phase/Key Stage 1 about 25% of pupils will reach Level 3, about 50% more will reach Level 2 and about 25% will reach Level 1 or lower, including the P Levels.

  • By the end of Key Stage 2, about 25% of pupils will reach Level 5, about 50% more will reach Level 4 and about 25% will reach the lower levels, including the P Levels.

  • By the end of Key Stage 3, about 25% of pupils will reach Level 7, about 50% more will reach Levels 5 or 6 and about 25% will reach the lower levels, including the P Levels.

  • By the end of Key Stage 4, about 25% of pupils will reach Grade A/A*, about 50% more will reach Grade C or above and about 20% more will reach Grade G or above. About 5% of pupils will be at the P and/or Entry Levels.


Present Key Stage Three Scheme of Work 2008/09

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Church

  • Fitting in – Introduction to St. Cuthbert’s School Kensuke’s Kingdom

  • The History of the Church in the North East

  • St. Cuthbert

Revelation

  • Life in Palestine at the time of Jesus – Temple, Synagogue, Bar Mitzvah

  • The Role of Mary and Joseph in the life of Jesus

Church

  • Images of God

  • Pilgrimage

Celebration

  • Who am I? Personal relationships

  • Sacraments of Initiation - Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation

  • Liturgical Year – Advent and Christmas

Life in Christ

  • Islam

  • The Sermon on the Mount – Law and Order

  • Relationships – Puberty and Adolescence

Life in Christ

  • Hinduism

  • Racism, prejudice, discrimination and tolerance

  • Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Revelation

  • Bible Skills

  • Old Testament –Creation up to the 10 Commandments

Revelation

  • Holy Spirit in the Old Testament – Judges and Kings

  • Ideas about the Kingdom of God

Revelation

  • Old Testament Prophets

  • Modern day prophets

  • Values

Life in Christ

  • Judaism

  • Covenant

  • People of Israel

Celebration

  • Jesus of Nazareth – Messiah, Examples of Love and Service, Last Supper, Eucharist and Death and Resurrection

  • Christian beliefs about Life after Death

Church

  • Church from Constantine to present day

  • Ecumenism

  • Lay ministry/Papacy

Celebration

  • Prayer and Worship

  • Devotion to Our Lady e.g. Lourdes, the Rosary

Church

  • Early Church – St Paul, The Holy Spirit, The People of God, Mission

  • Confirmation

Revelation

  • Justice and Peace – Christian values, Beatitudes, CAFOD, the Common Good

  • Environment

Life in Christ

  • Vocation – Marriage and Holy Orders

  • Human dignity and the sanctity of Life

  • Sex Education and Personal Relationships

Celebration

  • Conscience, Values and Choices

  • Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick

Life in Christ

  • Relationships and Lifestyle

Key Stage 4 RE


COURSE Religious Education (Studies)

EXAM BOARD EDEXCEL

SYLLABUS CODE A – Units 3 & 10

ASSESSMENT MODEL 2 written exams (80%) + 2 pieces of coursework (20%)

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT Mr P Collins

WHY STUDY RE?

RE at St Cuthbert’s is concerned with a pupil’s spiritual, social and academic development. On one hand it helps to promote an enquiring, critical and sympathetic approach to Christianity with reference to the Roman Catholic tradition. It also challenges belief and practice and helps us to identify and explore questions about the meaning and purpose of life in relation to our religious tradition. In short, RE helps us to develop as a person both in relation to God and others, while at the same time gaining a worthwhile qualification at GCSE.

WHAT WILL YOU STUDY?

  1. Catholic Christianity. (Unit 10)

  2. Religion and Life based on a study of Catholic Christianity. (Unit 3)

 

HOW WILL YOU BE TAUGHT?

RE is taught within the pastoral classes. Teachers make use of a wide variety of resources: text books, handouts, visiting speakers, videos and sometimes there is the opportunity to witness a ‘dry’ sacrament.


HOW WILL YOU BE ASSESSED?

The scheme of Assessment comprises two written papers, each worth 40% of the total mark. Paper J will be taken at the end of Year 10 and paper C (Roman Catholic Paper) at end of Year 11. 1 piece of coursework (1500 words minimum) will also be required (10%) for each section.


HOW CAN YOU FIND OUT MORE?

Consult your RE teacher or ask Mr Collins, the Head of R.E


Key Stage 5

RELIGIOUS STUDIES A Level


Exam board: OCR Specification code: H172 / H572


Website: WWW.OCR.ORG.UK

Teachers: talk to Mr. Collins / Mrs. McDiarmid / Mr. Stapylton to find out more

WHY SHOULD YOU CHOOSE RS?

Students who opt for this A level will: develop their interest in and enthusiasm for a rigorous study of religion and relate it to the wider world; treat the subject as an academic discipline by developing knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to the specialist study of religion; adopt an enquiring, critical and reflective approach to the study of religion; reflect on and develop their own values, opinions and attitudes in the light of their learning. Religious Studies combines well with almost all other humanities AS/Advanced GCE subjects such as History, Geography and English. In addition, if taken with sciences like Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Religious Studies will give you a broad-based curriculum. Many students use their qualification to go straight into employment, rather than go on to higher education. Because AS/Advanced GCE Religious Studies develops the transferable skills and the key skills that employers are looking for, they can help you take advantage of a wide range of employment opportunities.

WHAT WILL YOU STUDY?

Religious Ethics and New Testament. Ethical theory and applied ethics, free will and determinism and conscience are some of the topics you will study for Ethics. The Gospel setting, death and resurrection in St. Mark; parables, miracles and the Kingdom of God will be studied for New Testament.

HOW WILL YOU BE ASSESSED?

You will sit an external exam for both units at both AS Level and A2

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Essential- C grade at GCSE

Desirable- B grade at GCSE


USEFUL WEBSITES: RS-XS / LOGOS


AS Theology – New Testament (unit G574)


Pupils should be able to demonstrate understanding and knowledge of the following areas related to the Gospel and be able to discuss them critically:

First Century Gospel Setting

Judaism – law, sacrifice and covenant

Jerusalem Temple and Synagogue

Jewish religious groups; Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes and Zealots – their distinctive ideas and influence

Roman Occupation of Palestine in the first century

Source Criticism of the Gospels – the Synoptic Problem, the existence of Q, one source solution, two and four source solution and Markan priority

Mark’s Gospel


Themes and Texts of Mark’s Passion Narrative (Mark 11, 14:1-15:41)


Triumphal entry into Jerusalem and Cleansing of the Temple

The Last Supper and its links with the Passover: comparison of Luke 22:7-23 and 1 Corinthians 11:17-26

Historical accuracy of women, Pater, Judas and Pilate

Jesus’ death as sacrifice and atonement – the new covenant

The role of the Romans and the Jews

Use of the Old Testament

Historicity versus theology

Jesus as Son of God, Son of Man and righteous martyr


Themes and Tests from Resurrection narratives in the Synoptic Gospels


Matthew 27:57-28:20; Luke 23:50-24:53 and Mark15:42-16:20


Comparison of the three gospel accounts, the debates about the historical reliability and the meaning of the resurrection for each gospel writer

The long and short ending of Mark and debates about the lost ending of Mark



AS Theology – Religious Ethics (unit G572)

Pupils should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the following:

Ethical Theories

The concept of absolutist and relativist morality; objectivism and subjectivism

The terms deontological and teleological


Natural Law

The origins of Aquinas’ Natural Law in Aristotle’s idea of purpose

Aquinas’ ideas of purpose and perfection

Use of reason to discover Natural Law

Primary and Secondary precepts


Kantian Ethics

Difference between the Categorical and Hypothetical Imperatives

The formulations of the Categorical Imperative

Kant’s universalisation of maxims

Kant’s theory of duty

Kant’s idea of the moral law, good will and the summon bonum


Utilitarianism


Classical forms of Utilitarianism from Bentham and Mill

The Principle of Utility

Differences between Bentham and Mill

The Hedonic Calculus; higher and lower pleasures, quantity v quality, Act and Rule Utilitarianism

Preference Utilitarianism of Peter Singer

Religious Ethics

Main ethical principles of Christianity and how Christians make ethical decisions

The ways in which religion and morality can be linked or separate from each other

Divine Command Theory

Christian Ethics – Absolutist of Relativist?

How ethical theories may be considered religious

Pupils should be able to discuss critically these issues and their strengths and weaknesses.

Applied Ethics

Pupils should be able to apply the above theories to the following issues:


 

Religious Studies General RE



ST. CUTHBERT’S R.C. HIGH SCHOOL 6th form


GENERAL

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

WITH CERTIFICATION THROUGH

THE GENERAL STUDIES A LEVEL AQA




Date

AQA Reference

Curriculum Directory/RE Reference

AS GENERAL STUDIES

GENERAL RE

A2 Extensions



29/9

1/10

13/10

AS Unit 1

3.2.4


Church


Celebration

Beliefs, values and moral reasoning

World Religions


Basic information

Basis for moral argument

Beliefs and practices

Spiritual experience and religious belief manifest through works of art

15/10

3/11

AS Unit 1

3.2.5

Revelation


Church

Religious belief and experience, and connections between them

World Religions


Differences & tolerance

Religious and Moral education

Faith Schools

The dilemmas and complexity of a multi-faith and pluralist society; the process and problems of changing and developing morality; the relationship between religion and the state

5/11

17/11

AS Unit 1

3.2.1

3.2.2

Revelation


Life in Christ

Understanding and appreciation of the nature and importance of culture


Creativity and innovation

Art and Religion


Plato and Art

Art and Islam

Icons

Issues of taste, judgement and morality in the evaluation of art and the protection of the public

19/11

1/12

15/12

AS Unit 1

3.2.3

Revelation


Life in Christ

Aesthetic evaluation

Personal Response

Subjectivism/objectivism

Bible Stories

Images of God in art

The arts as a means of personal expression; Art works in the context of the period in which they were created

7/1

2/2

AS Unit 2

3.3.1

Celebration


Life in Christ

Characteristics of the Sciences (physical, life and earth)

Science and Religion


Cosmology

Truth in Science debate

Developments in birth control; the use and abuse of drugs, including alcohol

4/2

2/3

AS Unit 2

3.3.8

3.3.9

Celebration


Life in Christ

Moral responsibility: the social, ethical, and environmental implications of scientific discoveries and technological development

Ethics and Science


Xenotransplantation

GM foods

Cloning

N/A

4/3

16/3

AS Unit 2

3.3.10

Church


Life in Christ

Past and present relationships between technology, science and society

Ethics and Culture


Liberation Theology - Politics

Business

Environment

Correlations between science and religion

Pollution, earth’s resources

18/3

1 /4

AS Unit 1

Life in Christ


Church

Examination and appreciation of ideologies and values in society

Freedom


Rights and responsibilities

Fair and Free Trade

The relationship between civil law and religious belief

Equal opportunities

27/4

29/4

AS Unit 1

3.2.9

Church


Life in Christ

The nature of objectivity in social sciences: explanation and evaluation of human behaviour

Crime and punishment


Race

Disability

Changing attitudes towards the treatment of disadvantaged groups

Present Year 13 20008/2009 General RE Course

Lessons

Topic

Key words

Learning objective/outcome

Suggested resource

Key question

3

Justice and Peace

Justice

Peace

Human Rights

Respect

Totalitarian

Democracy

Students will:

be aware of human rights issues in one area of the world – Rwanda

research 2 other areas of the world where human rights are an issue

explore one organization that works for justice and peace in the world

be able to explain why there is a need to respect peoples right to justice and peace

How can we work for Justice and Peace in the world today?


PowerPoint presentation


Internet


Newspapers / magazines


Dept handouts/ text books


DVD human rights


Film

3

Crime and Punishment

Crime

Punishment

Criminology

Incarceration

Penal

Rehabilitation

Reconciliation

Dignity

Revenge

Students will:

consider the causes of crime

explore the nature of punishments in the EEC and other areas of the world

explain Christian/ Catholic attitudes to punishment as means to rehabilitation and reconciliation

offer an opinion with regard to the death penalty

Should Britain reintroduce the Death Penalty?


Deadman Walking

Shawshank Redemption


Guest Speaker: prison chaplain

3

Healthy Living:


Addiction

Sexual Health

Risk Taking




3

Lifestyles


Single

Homosexuality

Married

Religious/ Priesthood




3

War




3

Environmental Ethics


Pollution

Rainforest

Global Warming




2

Bio-Ethics


Infertility

IVF

Surrogacy

Abortion/Contraception








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