Religious Studies
Aims and Philosophy
Religious Studies is taught to all pupils in the school from
Years 7 - 9 and in Year 11 there is a general RE programme
discussing ethical issues. For those who choose the subject
for GCSE (Years 10 and 11) a course offered by the AQA examining
body is selected. At Sixth Form level pupils who choose the AS and
A2 Religious Studies specifications are able to treat the subject
as an academic discipline by developing knowledge and understanding
appropriate to a special study of religion. The teaching is
academic and non-confessional in approach.
Religious Studies in Years 7 - 9 enables pupils to know and
understand the beliefs and practices of Christianity and at least
two other religions. It helps them develop informed
opinions of their value to themselves and to others. As an
independent school we aim to remain fully aware of national
developments so that we can apply the best aspects of such
developments to our own syllabus which conforms to that developed
by QCA and the Devon agreed syllabus.
Course Content
Outline of the courses - in particular:
Year 7: An Introduction to Religion
Searching for God, Christian Justice, Islam and Buddhism.
Year 8: Sikhism, Discrimination and the Life and Teachings
of Jesus
Sikhism, Prejudice past and present, The Importance of the
Incarnation for Christians Today, The Importance of the
Resurrection, Belief and Practice and Places of Worship.
Year 9: The Philosophy of Religion and World
Religions
Rites of Passage, Existence of God, Human Suffering, Worship and
Morality.
GCSE (Years 10 & 11) Course
AQA Religious Studies Course
Syllabus B, Code 4056
Unit 3, Religion and Morality
Unit 4, Religious Philosophy and
Ultimate Questions
Lower Sixth
Pupils take two modules for Advanced Subsidiary GCE, which
centre on the Philosophy of Religion and Religious Ethics. In
the former, pupils study the traditional arguments for the
existence of God and in the latter, pupils consider ethical systems
which might be applied to major social issues.
Upper Sixth
Pupils having taken two units for Advanced Subsidiary GCE
following the OCR specification in Philosophy of Religion and
Religious Ethics will take a further two units for an Advanced GCE
award.
Special Information
We hope that following Religious Studies at Plymouth College
will not only give pupils a firm grounding and interest in the
subject but that they will be encouraged to make reasoned and
informed judgements about religious and moral issues and enhance
their ability to empathise, accept and respect the right of others
to hold different beliefs from their own.