The Religious Education curriculum at Thornhill Community Academy provides students with a rich knowledge of a range of religions, traditions and worldviews. The Religious Education curriculum seeks to equip students with substantive, disciplinary and personal knowledge via the study of religions, traditions and non-religious worldviews. The curriculum does not endorse one belief over another, or religious beliefs over non-religious beliefs. Rather it seeks to provide opportunity for rich discourse between religions studied and pupils’ own ways of seeing the world. It provides an opportunity for pupils to reflect on their own beliefs, values and experiences in the light of their study.

Religious Education is a rigorous subject which uses a range of academic disciplines in age-appropriate ways in order to prepare pupils for adult life in modern diverse Britain. The curriculum provides opportunity for pupils to enquire into human questions, supports problem solving and critical thinking skills. For example, the meaning of their existence and their purpose in life. The Religious Education curriculum seeks to nurture informed and resilient responses to misunderstanding, stereotyping and division. It offers a place in the curriculum where difficult or ‘risky’ questions can be tackled within a safe but challenging context. 

Description of the course at Key Stage 3
The Religious Education curriculum within KS3 provides students with an ambitious programme of study which is designed to give students a well-rounded, Religious Education. Students receive a discreet 1-hour lesson per week which is delivered by teachers with secure subject knowledge. The Kirklees Agreed Syllabus has been used as a basis for the development of a curriculum of study at Thornhill Community Academy. 

Units of work across Key Stage 3 are sequenced in such a way to enable students to build upon the knowledge they study, unit on unit and prepare them for study at key Stage 4. Each unit has a specific theme in which students enquire into human questions about religion, tradition and non-religious worldviews. Over the course of a year, pupils’ study four ten-week units of work. Schemes of learning are well sequenced to enable pupils to develop deep accurate representations of religion, traditions and non-religious worldviews. The Religious Education curriculum enables learners to retain and deploy learning and build on what they learn term by term, year on year.  

Key Stage 4 Core Religious Education
Students in Y10 have a fortnightly discreet RE lesson. Over the course of the year, students study three units of work, through which they are challenged with questions about belief, values, meaning, purpose, and truth, enabling them to develop their own attitudes towards religious and moral issues. Through RE lessons,  students will also gain an appreciation of how religion, philosophy and ethics form the basis of our culture. They will develop analytical and critical thinking skills and the ability to work with abstract ideas. Students will consider different beliefs and attitudes to religious and non-religious issues in contemporary British society. In year 11 the Religious Education curriculum is delivered via Learning for Life Units. Through these units, students explore ultimate questions such as, is there life after death and can we build an inclusive society?

Y10 & 11 students receive three Enrichment Days per year. These days are made up of both Guest Speakers and Staff led sessions, covering range of Religious and Ethical topics. As an Academy, we strive to welcome as many outside agencies as possible to give our students a broad and balanced offering. We are proud to welcome in high-profile companies and charities, all delivering sessions which engage and educate our students on topical issues. All Enrichment Days have focuses linking to the DfE Statutory RSE Guidance, Gatsby Benchmarks, Religious Studies themes and areas of identified student need (Kirklees Student Survey, Student Voice etc).

Why study GCSE Religious Studies?
Do you enjoy discussing, debating and listening to other peoples’ points of view? If so, this course is for you. The aim of this course is to encourage you to look at decisions people have to make in our society, how they made them and who influenced them. This subject is very much based on your own views and opinions; there is lots of discussion in this course. There are many opportunities for ‘out of the academy learning’ experiences during your studies. This is a living issues course, so it is important to discuss the issues with friends and family whilst listening to and analysing responses, in light of your own learning.

Description of the course
This course is studied over three years. Different units are studied in years 9, 10 & 11. The course examines Christian, Islamic attitudes to a variety of issues.

Area of study 1 - Religion and Ethics.
You will study all four content sections and focus on the religion of Christianity:

• Beliefs
• Marriage and the family
• Living the Religious Life
• Matters of Life and Death

Area of study 2 - Religion, Peace and Conflict.
You will study all four content sections and focus on the religion of Islam:

• Beliefs
• Crime and Punishment
• Living the Religious Life
• Peace and Conflict

How the course is assessed?
Two externally assessed examinations, both at the end of Year 11, one for each topic studied.

Area of study 1 - Religion and Ethics:

• Written examination 1hour and 45 minutes
• 50% of the qualification
• 102 marks

Area of study 2 - Religion, Peace and Conflict:

• Written examination 1hour and 45 minutes
• 50% of the qualification
• 102 marks

Other information
Course particularly suited to all students. Prior knowledge of Christianity and Islam is helpful but not essential.

Curriculum plans for Religious Education can be viewed from the links below.