Religious Education
Subject Leader: Mr S Raettig
Curriculum Leader: Mr B Evans
We provide an academic RE curriculum that enables students to have the skills, knowledge and understanding to engage in respectful dialogue about philosophical, religious, and ethical issues. Religion and Philosophy is the foundation of culture and therefore studying religion and philosophy is vital in helping students to understand society’s beliefs, morals, and values. We draw inspiration from the North Yorkshire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education and fuse this with knowledge, understanding and application of Fundamental British Values. This approach engenders an appreciation of the values that exist within society and allows students to reflect on their own personal beliefs, morals, and values in a safe and supportive environment.
We want the students at Norton College to become successful learners, confident individuals, and responsible citizens. We achieve this through provoking questions about the ultimate meaning and purpose of life, beliefs about God, the self and the nature of reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human. We want our young people to develop their sense of identity and belonging, and to flourish as individuals within their communities and as citizens in a diverse and global community. Religious Education has an important role in preparing students for adult life, employment, and lifelong learning. We aim to enable them to develop respect for, and sensitivity towards others, especially those whose faith and beliefs are different from their own.
The RE Department is led by a specialist teacher, ably supported by two additional members of the teaching staff. It is our aim to promote learning in a lively and engaging way that combines fun with academic rigour. Central to the delivery of RE is the opportunity to visit places of worship – such local churches, a Sikh Gurdwara and an Islamic Mosque in Bradford and a local Buddhist centre. We also run an overseas residential trip to the Netherlands in Year 8 as a key component in our unit “Where was God in the Holocaust?”
“Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no-one is watching.” C. S. Lewis
Key Stage 3
Students currently have two lessons per fortnight throughout Years 7-9.
The scheme of work is designed to fit in with the principle aim of engaging students in systematic enquiry into significant human questions which religion and worldviews address. This is to enable students to develop the understanding and skill needed to appreciate and appraise varied responses to these questions, as well as developing responses of their own.
Year 7 - Autumn term
What are the Fundamental British Values?
Judaism: What are the key beliefs and teachings in Judaism?
Judaism: What is good and what is challenging about being a Jewish teenager in Britain today?
Year 7 - Spring term
What is humanism and how does it influence British Society?
Should religious buildings be sold to feed the starving?
Year 7 - Summer term
Sikhism: What are the key beliefs and teachings in Sikhism?
Sikhism: What is good and what is challenging about being a teenage Sikh in Britain today?
Year 8 - Autumn term
Christianity: What are the key beliefs and teachings in Christianity?
Christianity: Does living biblically mean obeying the whole Bible?
Year 8 - Spring term
Where was God in the Holocaust?
Buddhism: What are the key beliefs and teachings in Buddhism?
Year 8 - Summer term
Should happiness be the main purpose of life?
How can people express the spiritual through the arts?
Year 9 - Autumn term
Islam: What are the key beliefs and teachings in Islam?
Islam: What is good and what is challenging about being a teenage Muslim in Britain today?
Year 9 - Spring term
Identity, sexual identity and social responsibility
Year 9 - Summer term
Why is there suffering? Are there any good solutions?
Is death the end? Does it matter?
Key Stage 4
All students study a RE course in Year 10 and Year 11. There is one RE lesson per fortnight. This covers a mixture of themes linked to religious and secular worldviews.
In addition, students can opt to study GCSE Religious Studies. We currently follow the AQA GCSE (9-1) Specification A. In Year 10, the focus is mainly on Christian beliefs, teachings, and practice and this is contrasted with Buddhist beliefs, teachings, and practice. Year 11 sees the adoption of a themed-based approach, within which we study religious and secular responses to four contemporary issues. There are five lessons per fortnight for the GCSE Religious Studies option.
Year 10 - Autumn term
Is religion a power for peace or a cause of conflict?
Year 10 - Spring term
Religion and the multicultural society
Year 10 - Summer term
Are the seven deadly sins still relevant today?
Year 11 - Autumn term
Who cares about stewardship?
Year 11 - Spring term
Religion and work
Year 11 - Summer term
GCSE: Revision and sitting the end of GCSE examinations
