Religious Studies
Subject Vision
Our main vision of Religious Studies at Hodge Hill Girls’ school is to promote the respect of Article 9: Freedom of thought, conscience and religion. We as a department want to provide our pupils with diverse, enriching and empowering lessons that effectively create a generation which is receptive to difference and prepare them for a culturally diverse and evolving world. Our aim is to encourage an awareness of how Religious Studies is significant to everyday life, to encourage passion for the study of beliefs, practices, lifestyles and worldviews locally, nationally and globally. We thrive to promote shared respect, acceptance and appreciation across varied cultures and communities.
The staff in RS department have the ambition to nurture pupils spiritually, academically and personally. Finding out about the beliefs and lifestyles of all people will support pupils at Hodge Hill Girls’ school reflect on their own beliefs, the choices they make, character they develop and who they want to be. Learning to express their own beliefs, sharing their own views and respectfully listening to the opinions of others is an important life skill and this is something that we feel passionate about in the Religious Studies Department.
Curriculum Plan
Key Stage 3 |
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The Religious Studies curriculum at Key Stage 3 is well-sequenced and knowledge-rich which enables pupils to have a comprehensive understanding of the multi-cultural and multi-faith society in which they live and develop key skills in which to discover more about the world and their individual place within it. It gives them opportunity to draw parallels to other people's beliefs and leads them to a deeper understanding and respect of a range of religious and non-religious philosophies. Each unit
Curriculum hours fortnightly:
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Autumn 1 |
Autumn 2 |
Spring 1 |
Spring 2 |
Summer 1 |
Summer 2 |
Year 7 |
Unit 1: What is Belief? |
Unit 2: Why are Abraham & Moses special to Jews? |
Unit 3: Why is Pr. Muhammad important to Muslims? |
Unit 4: Were and how do believers' worship?
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Unit 5: Why are sacred texts important to believers? |
Unit 6: Why is Gotoma Buddha important today? |
Year 8 |
Unit 1: What does it mean to mean to be committed Jew?
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Unit 2: What does the Incarnation mean to Christians?
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Unit 3: What does it mean to be a committed Muslim?
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Unit 4: What does the resurrection mean to Christians?
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Unit 5: What are we doing to the environment? |
Unit 6: What does it mean to be a committed Sikh?
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Year 9 |
Unit 1: Should humans compete with God?
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Unit 2: Can we make poverty history?
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Unit 3: How can we challenge unfair rules?
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Unit 4: Where are we going? (Rites of passage)
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Unit 5: Can humans ever live-in peace?
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GCSE: Section 1 Christian Beliefs |
Key Stage 4 |
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At Key Stage 4 pupils will demonstrate a deeper understanding of Christian and Muslim beliefs, teachings and practices and how these contrast in the varied denominations amongst these two religions. These areas of studies allow pupils to have a thorough understanding of diverse philosophical and ethical viewpoints. Religious studies is a thought-provoking subject; the selected contemporary themes will help inspire engaging classroom discussions and will help us bring the subject to life and inspire pupils to achieve more. Pupil voice, pupil choice, exceptional GCSE results and the multidisciplinary nature of Religious Studies has enabled it to become a compulsory subject at Hodge Hill Girls’ School.
Curriculum hours fortnightly:
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Year 10 |
Year 11 |
Paper 3: Area of Study 3 Religion, Philosophy & Social Justice through Christianity |
Paper 1: Area of Study 1 Religion and Ethics through Islam
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There are FOUR compulsory content areas:
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There are FOUR compulsory content areas:
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Skills development across both Key Stages |
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Assessment
The aim of assessment in Religious Studies is so the staff can determine pupil level of attainment and achievement and provide them with feedback on their strengths and areas to improve. For pupils who didn’t master the units or skills, RS staff can use data or findings from the assessments to create a plan for intervention and remediation. |
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Key Stage 3 |
Key Stage 4 |
Formative assessment:
Summative assessment:
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Formative assessment:
Summative assessment:
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Outcomes
Religious Studies Department prides itself on the results it achieves.
Religious Studies |
No. of pupils |
National average |
9-7 |
9-4 |
9-1 |
U |
2020 |
147 |
81% |
42% |
94% |
100% |
- |
2019 |
147 |
72% |
42% |
88% |
100% |
- |
2018 |
148 |
72% |
25% |
78% |
100% |
- |
What next
Religious Studies is a subject that prepares pupils for any future career pathway. The study of Religious Studies is particularly useful for those young people who aspire to a career in teaching, law, journalism, politics, social work and medicine as it requires pupils to think compassionately and from many different perspectives. Religious Studies enables pupils to gain critical and evaluative skills sought by higher education and employers.
COVID: DUE TO THE SCHOOL CLOSURES BETWEEN MARCH 2020 – JULY 2020 AND ONGOING GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SMALL, TEMPORARY ADAPTIONS TO THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM. WE WILL ENDEAVOUR TO RETURN TO A NORMAL CURRICULUM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND SUPPORT DURING THIS TIME.