Religious Education
‘I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think’ Socrates
Religious Studies is a thriving part of the curriculum at Waldegrave School and is a subject where students can start to understand the world around them by studying different faiths, beliefs systems and cultures. It provides an excellent forum for students to develop and explore their own beliefs and moral values. Religious Studies is a subject where students can develop their skills of evaluations and analysis, debating today’s moral issues and developing empathy essential for today’s multi-cultural society.
The focus of RS at Key Stage 3 is learning about the main religions represented in Great Britain, including Humanism. Students also focus on Philosophy and key questions like, ‘Does God exist?’. The Key Stage 3 curriculum gives students an excellent foundation for starting their GCSE RS where they will start looking at Christianity and Islam in further detail. They will focus in on key beliefs for each religion and how this affects believer’s lives and actions. Ethical topics are also studies including issues of life and death for example euthanasia, abortion and the afterlife, and in Y11 issues of crime and punishment. In the Sixth Form, Religious Studies A level is a popular choice with students focusing on Philosophy, Ethics and Theology. Religious Studies provides a strong academic foundation for further study and a diverse range of future careers including law, politics and medicine.
Religious Studies curriculum extends beyond the classroom with trips to places of worship, visiting speakers and conferences led by eminent philosophers and academics. Students also enter a national spirited arts competition where they produce a personal piece of art in response to a philosophical question.