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Religious Studies

In the Religious Education Department our aims are not only to teach young people about religion but also about the world in which they are growing up and how they can find their place in the world.
Religious Studies helps students develop important skills and abilities:
• analytical thinking
• research skills
• critical judgement
• an ability to 'understand both sides‘ and negotiate and resolve conflict
• problem-solving skills
• leadership skills
• understanding of the impact of conflicting views
• Understanding human diversity
These skills are particularly useful for future careers in law, education, social work, politics, medicine, administration or the media.

Department Staff

Head of Department
Mr M Nesbitt B.D., P.G.C.E.
Teaching Staff
Mrs L Henry M.A., M.Sc.
Mr D Holley B.A.
Mrs S Crawford

Head of Department
Mr M Nesbitt	B.D., P.G.C.E.
Teaching Staff
Mrs L Henry	M.A., M.Sc.
Mr D Holley	B.A.
Mrs S Crawford	B.Th

Subject Curriculum

The department has set up a support website for Religious Studies pupils in the school. Here pupils can access a variety of information and resource materials from general revision tips to particular support for pupils studying for external examinations.

Click here to access the website: Religious Studies Website

Key Stage 3

The Programme of Study in Junior School is based on the requirements laid down in the Revised Curriculum for Northern Ireland and covers topics such as:

Year 8:	Does God Exist?	Year 9:	Introducing the New Testament
	Me and Myself		Palestine In the Time of Christ
	God’s Word		The Kingdom of God
	Daniel		The Miracles of Jesus
	The Old Testament Story		The Last Days of Jesus
			Myself and Others

Year 10:	The Spreading Church
	St Patrick
	Me and My World
	Introducing Islam
	Teen Challenge

G.C.S.E.
In Year 11 Religious Studies is offered at GCSE level and pupils have the opportunity to study for either the CCEA Full Course or the OCR Short Course specification in Religious Studies.

CCEA Full Course
Pupils opting for the Full Course option study the following modules:
• Christianity through a Study of the Gospel of Matthew (Year 11). This module covers the life and work of Jesus and the nature of Christian discipleship.
• An Introduction to Christian Ethics (Year 12). This module covers a variety of ethical issues including relationships; environment; issues of life and death; equality and war and peace.
Pupils will sit an examination at the end of Year 11 and at the end of Year 12 and their overall result will be based on their performance in both papers.

OCR Short Course
Pupils opting for the Short Course option study the following modules:
• Christian Scriptures - Teachings of Jesus through a study of Luke (Year 11). This module includes a study of the nature of God; the parables of Jesus; Christian discipleship; Christian views on wealth, the role of women, outcasts and suffering; and the work of the Holy Spirit.
• Ethics - Relationships, Medical Ethics, Poverty and Wealth (Year 12). This module includes a study of issues such as, family life and relationships; medical ethics – abortion, euthanasia, infertility, and animal research; poverty and wealth.
Pupils will sit an examination at the end of Year 11 and at the end of Year 12 and their overall result will be based on their performance in both papers.


AS/A2
This course is an ideal follow-on for the student who has obtained a good grade in GCSE Religious Studies. It may also be possible, however, for students who have not under-taken the GCSE to attempt this course, although they will lack some useful background material.


At AS-level students will cover the following two areas of study:

1. An Introduction to Acts of the Apostles

This involves a study of the following themes in the Acts of the Apostles:
• Background to Acts – including the date, authorship and purpose of Acts.
• The Beginnings of the Church – including Pentecost and the beginnings of Church missionary work.
• Growth and Expansion of the Church – the work of key figures, such as Peter, Stephen and Philip, in the spread of the message.
• Paul the Apostle – conversion and missionary activity.
• Faith, Work and Witness in Acts – the role of the Holy Spirit and miracles in the early church, prayer, Church life and organisation.

2. Religious Ethics: Foundations and Principles and Practice

This involves a study of:
• Foundations of Christian Ethics – the Decalogue, the Sermon on the Mount and Paul’s ethics.
• Ethical Theories – Natural Law, Utilitarianism and Situation Ethics.
• Bio-ethics – including sanctity of life issues, assisted reproduction, therapeutic cloning, stem cell research and surrogacy.
• Sexual Ethics – marriage and divorce, sexual relationships, sexual identity and contraception.
• Life and Death Issues – including abortion, assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Assessment at AS level will be through two external examinations each lasting 1 hour and 20 minutes.


At A2-level students will cover the following two areas of study:


1. A Study of Acts, Galatians and I Corinthians

Students will explore the following themes:
• Paul In Captivity – including his trials and journey to Rome.
• The Theology of Acts – as expressed in the major speeches of Paul.
• Paul’s Letter to the Galatians – including the purpose of the letter and major themes such as justification by faith, and law and grace.
• Paul’s 1st letter to the Corinthians – including the purpose of the letter and major themes such as unity, immorality, lawsuits, marriage and worship.
• Paul in Acts and Letters – including Paul as pastor and missionary; his teachings on circumcision and the resurrection.


2. Ethics and Society

Students will carry out a critical study of the following themes:
• Ethical Decision Making – including Virtue ethics, the place of Conscience in decision making and Relativism.
• Human Rights –including Christian and Secular perspective on human rights and the rights of women and minority groups.
• Environmental Ethics – including the ecological debate and the distribution of the world’s resources.
• War and Peace –including the Just War Theory, ethics of contemporary warfare and pacifism.
• Ethics of Justice and Punishment –including the methods and purpose of punishment and Capital Punishment.

Assessment at A2 level will be through two external examinations each lasting 2 hours.