Subject Head: Sarah Dawson
Contact: sdawson@farmors.gloucs.sch.uk
During their first three years at Farmor’s all students will study RS for two periods each week. Religious Studies at Farmor’s School will help students to understand the complex multi-faith and multicultural world in which they live. It will allow them the opportunity to explore the beliefs of the main faith systems in the United Kingdom and the world and consider how such beliefs help people to make sense of the world and of their own lives. Through lively classroom teaching, supported by trips to places of worship, students will engage with challenging questions about the ultimate meaning and purpose of life and the nature of reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human. It will help to prepare them for the challenges of the future, help enable them to discern what is of value within and outside religious traditions, and contribute to their own personal development.
Term 1
Term 2
Term 3
Term 4
Term 5
Term 6
7
Introduction to Religious Studies
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Ultimate Questions
Creation Stories
8
Buddhism
Hinduism
Sikhism
Belief into Action: Justice and Human Rights
Expressing Spirituality
Religion Today: Diversity
9
Why is there Suffering?
Matters of Life and Death
Preparation for GCSE: Christianity
GCSE Short Course: AQA Christianity: Ethics
Conflict
Global Concerns
Specification: AQA Religious Studies
Section A: The study of religions: beliefs and teachings of two religions:
Key beliefs – the nature of God, different beliefs about creation and the afterlife, Jesus and salvation
Practices – worship and festivals, the role of the Church in the local and worldwide community
Key Beliefs - The six articles of faith in Sunni Islam and five roots of Usul ad-Din in Shi’a Islam, Tawhid, the nature of God, predestination and angels
Authority – Prophethood, the Qur’an and the Imamate
Practices – worship, duties and festivals
Section B: Thematic studies: religious, philosophical and ethical studies:
Relationships and families – sex, marriage, divorce, contraception, families and gender equality
Religion, peace and conflict – violence, terrorism, war, forgiveness and conflict in the 21st century
Religion and life – abortion, euthanasia, animal experimentation, origin and value of the universe and human life
Religion, crime and punishment- causes of crime, types of punishment, death penalty and corporal punishment
The course will provide students with the opportunity to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding of religion by exploring the significance and impact of beliefs, teachings, sources, practices, ways of life and forms of expressing meaning; express their personal responses and informed insights on fundamental questions and issues about identity, belonging, meaning, purpose, truth, values and commitments.
There are two 1 hour 45 minutes written papers (96 marks plus 5 marks for spelling, grammar and specialist terminology). There is no coursework.