Religious Studies
Religious Studies increasingly goes by the new title of the Common Entrance syllabus: Theology, Philosophy and Religion. Besides following this wide-ranging syllabus, with its focus on humanity’s unfolding relationship with the world and with God, we aim to encourage children to discuss, explore and express their beliefs and responses to the world, explore questions that they may have.
We believe everyone is unique and should be treated equally. We are fully committed to ensuring that all pupils, no matter what their colour, creed or background, are given an equal chance. The values of Religious Studies reflect this wider ethos of the school, as it is taught throughout the school, it is not simply about learning right from wrong. We recognise that a variety of teaching methods is necessary to ensure each individual’s strengths are met and therefore make every attempt necessary to vary our teaching strategies. In the first three years of prep school, children explore the beliefs and teachings of the ‘big six’ religions but the focus is geared to enable children to succeed at the Common Entrance and scholarship examinations to their senior schools, in line with the broadly Christian ethos of the school.
In Religious Studies we aim to:
Give pupils the opportunity to develop, or continue, their own beliefs and values for life
- Help individuals to develop his/her own identity
- Develop a respect for others religious beliefs and practice
- Stimulate and maintain pupils’ curiosity and interest in religion
- Enable pupils to see Religious Studies in the context of a wider body of knowledge and skills
- Contribute to the moral, social and ethical development of the pupils
- Enable pupils to work independently and as part of a team
- Develop pupils’ awareness of the implications of religion (past and present)
- Allow pupils to develop informed opinions and be able to support them with balanced arguments and empathy
We expect to achieve the following objectives:
- Enable pupils to gain the necessary skills and knowledge to pass the Religious Studies Common Entrance paper, or individual Scholarship paper.
- Empower pupils to make balanced and informed choices and decisions with regard to moral and social issues; understand and use religious terminology and explanations.
- Encourage pupils to recall and apply their knowledge and skills in familiar and unfamiliar situations. Pupils should be able to obtain information and make reasoned judgements.
- To encourage pupils to develop a clear and more positive image of their own identity and self-worth.
