Religious Education (GCSE Option - Religious Studies)

Belong 

The intent of the Religious Education (RE) department is for every student, regardless of background or circumstance, to be given the opportunity to explore their own beliefs about the world whilst developing a genuine sense of enquiry and appreciation for the beliefs and values of others. RE at Edgar Wood Academy prepares students for life in modern Britain whilst also providing them with the opportunities to become aware of the wider-world, the people and the social issues that surround them. RE explores philosophical, ethical, theological and sociological disciplines; through this academic rigour, our students can develop a full understanding of what it means to be religious and how that looks in modern Britain and throughout the world. As part of this, students will engage with living religions that are active and relevant in our world and in our Academy as well as exploring non-religious worldviews and adopting a worldviews approach to learning.   

Aligned with Altus Education Partnership’s vision, the RE curriculum contributes to an inclusive and cohesive education system that improves lives and fosters understanding across the borough and beyond. It advances education so that young people lead happy and fulfilling lives and make positive differences to their communities and society.   

The RE curriculum intends to give students the opportunity to develop an understanding of the place of religion throughout history and the impact it has on individuals, communities as well as social and political domains. We follow a chronological approach to the study of the Abrahamic faiths so that students can see the interconnectivity of each of these religions.  

Religious Education allows students to develop a genuine sense of respect, understanding and appreciation of diversity in all its magnificent forms whilst also fostering an upstander approach to issues of social justice. The RE curriculum has a clear and ambitious intent. It is coherently sequenced to build knowledge cumulatively - from foundational concepts about beliefs and practices to complex ethical and philosophical discussion. The curriculum promotes equitable access for all learners, including those with SEND and disadvantaged backgrounds, through adaptive teaching and inclusive pedagogy. 

At the heart of the RE curriculum are the Academy’s core values: Resilience, Responsibility, Empathy, and Respect. Students are encouraged to show Resilienceby embracing challenging and abstract concepts and persevering through enquiry-based learning. Resilience is nurtured through challenging questions and debates that require thoughtful reasoning. Responsibility is encouraged as students consider the impact of their views and actions on others. Empathy is developed through exploring diverse beliefs and world views, while respect is central to classroom dialogue and reflection. Resilience is also developed through extended reflection tasks and essay writing. Responsibility is fostered through ethical decision-making and respectful discussion. Empathy and Respect are reinforced through dialogue, mutual understanding, and celebration of diversity. This embodies Altus Education Partnership’s mission to advance education so that young people lead fulfilling lives and make positive differences to society.   

Thrive 

The RE curriculum is planned and sequenced to develop knowledge, understanding, and skills through enquiry, discussion, and critical analysis. Teachers emphasise connections between religious texts, belief systems, and moral frameworks to build schema and conceptual fluency. Our curriculum exposes our students to the six major world religions, alternative religious and non-religious worldviews as well as philosophical and ethical themes. We implement an authentic curriculum whereby all students are able to see themselves represented. To understand the world around us, and how we fit into that world, we must attempt to understand the religions, worldviews, cultures, traditions, customs and beliefs of the people we share it with, as well as developing a better understanding of who we are. It is the right of every student at Edgar Wood to become equipped with the powerful knowledge that will allow them to be a respectful, open-minded and active citizen who can form and evaluate their own opinions whilst gracefully acknowledging and engaging with those of other people. In RS, we open up the powerful knowledge needed by our students by focusing on key threshold concepts within each scheme of learning. 

Crucially, RE at Edgar Wood Academy is informed by the Science of Learning. Drawing on cognitive research, teachers use retrieval practice to link new learning with prior knowledge, supporting long-term memory formation. Spaced repetition ensures core ideas - such as belief, ethics, and meaning - are revisited and applied in new contexts. Students are encouraged to think deeply and reflect critically, building on prior learning to form balanced judgements. Cognitive load theory guides lesson design so that complex concepts are introduced in manageable steps.   

Implementation is rich in adaptive teaching, assessment for learning, and collaborative professional development. Formative assessment identifies misconceptions, while summative assessment measures cumulative understanding and conceptual progression. Teachers review practice to ensure consistency and impact.   

Achieve  

Impact is evaluated through assessments, student voice, and work scrutiny to ensure learners know more, remember more, and can do more. Leaders review curriculum intent and implementation to drive continuous improvement and equity. Students emerge as respectful, open-minded, reflective and informed learners who understand the role of belief, practice, ethics, and values in shaping human experience. They demonstrate confidence in expressing reasoned opinions and respect for different perspectives. Students can successfully enter life in modern Britain as well-rounded citizens who are equipped to make positive change and challenge intolerance.

PLEASE NOTE: Parents and carers have the right to withdraw their child from all or part of RE. Please contact the Head of RE - Mrs C. Alafiatayo - on c.alafiatayo@edgarwood.org in order to request withdrawal for your child.

GCSE Religious Studies

GCSE Religious Studies (RS) allows you to investigate, explore and examine the biggest philosophical and ethical themes of the twenty-first century; such as ‘is it ever right to take a life?’, ‘is abortion acceptable?’, and ‘is it possible to truly forgive evil acts?’. You will also have the opportunity to engage in a depth study of Christian and Islamic belief and practice. 

For more information on what will be studied and how it will be assessed in Religious Studies in years 10 and 11, please refer to our Year 9 GCSE Options Booklet.

Learning Journeys in Religious Education/Religious Studies