Religious Education

“True education enables us to love life and opens us to the fullness of life.”- Pope Francis

Our curriculum is firmly grounded is Catholic Christianity and provides the opportunity for students to explore beliefs, teachings and faith values from other Christian traditions and world religions; including Islam, Judaism and Sikhism. Humanist and Atheistic world views are also explored and discussed offering a rounded, balanced and holistic experience.

In all Key Stages we pursue a knowledge-based curriculum because research and experience tell us it is the best way to enhance social mobility in disadvantaged communities. Reading is promoted to develop committed learners and students are encouraged to approach all topics with enquiring and questioning minds.

Homework enables students to further deepen their understanding and academic achievement and takes them through structured revision activities to improve both knowledge and skills.

Our vision is to enable students to make the most of their potential in giving ‘Glory to God through service’ Laus Deo- Praise be to God. We want our students to be respectful of all faiths and traditions whilst feeling secure in expressing their own beliefs. We instil a deep knowledge of the Catholic faith and what it means to be a Catholic today through opportunities of study and worship. We want our young people to contribute to the wider community via outreach work in order to establish positive relationship skills for life.

The Key Stage 3 curriculum will change from September 2022 (for Year 7), 2023 (Year 8) and 2024 in line with the new Diocesan framework. RECD 2025- To Know You more Clearly. Nonetheless, many of the current topics will continue to be studied in some form.

The liturgical times of the year are also explored to give meaning and purpose to the spiritual life of the school.

In addition, we believe that Relationships Sex Education (as part of the PHSRE curriculum: See RSE section of school website) should be taught through the Catholic lens and thus we deliver it within our RE lessons.

The Year 7 curriculum is entirely Christian to ensure that students coming from non-Christian or non-religious backgrounds close essential knowledge gaps. * We have made one an amendment to the order of the specification; choosing to place the 2nd unit Prophecy & Promise as the 1st in Year 7 in order to focus on knowing more about the Bible and prophetic texts/language before exploring the creation of the universe and our purpose(s) in order to better set our pupils up for success.

The Year 8 curriculum will build upon the content explored in Year 7 and expand to include Dharmic religion through the Catholic lens during the dialogue & encounter unit. This will be in the order of the RECD specification.

The Year 9 curriculum continues the spiral, enabling further depth in catechesis and culmination in the exploration of an Abrahamic religion through the Catholic lens during the dialogue & encounter unit.

	Autumn		Spring		Summer
Year	Half term 1	Half Term 2	Half Term 3	Half Term 4	Half Term 5	Half Term 6
7	1.Introduction to BCCC into: Prophecy & Promise* 2. RSE Person I want to become	3. Creation & Covenant 4. Advent & Christmas	5. Galilee to Jerusalem	6.Desert to Garden 7.Lent, Holy Week & Easter	8. Ends of the Earth	9.Dialogue & Encounter- Christian Communities
8	1.Creation & Covenant	2.Prophecy & Promise 3.Advent & Christmas	4. Galilee to Jerusalem. 5. RSE Created & Chosen	6. Desert to Garden 7. Lent, Holy Week & Easter	9. Ends of the Earth	7. Dialogue & Encounter- Dharmic Religion
9	1.Creation & Covenant 2. RSE Search for Love	3.Prophecy & Promise 4.Advent & Christmas	5. Galilee to Jerusalem.	6. Desert to Garden 7. Lent, Holy Week & Easter	9. Ends of the Earth	7. Dialogue & Encounter- Abrahamic Faith

The Key Stage 4 curriculum will continue to follow the EDUQAS- Religious Studies Route B: Study of a Religion- Judaism as a part of the Diocesan Directives.

We continue to teach Relationships Sex Education (as part of the PHSRE curriculum: See RSE section of school website) in our RE lessons as we believe that it is important to deliver it through the Catholic lens.

Our studies include three course components which will culminate in examinations.

Component 1

Catholic Theology; Theme 1: Origins & Meanings + Theme 2: Good & Evil

Component 2

Catholic Theology; Theme 3: Life & Death + Theme 4: Sin and Forgiveness

Component 3

Study of a World Religion – Judaism; Theme 1 Beliefs + Theme 2 Practices.

Component Number	Title	Written Examination	%	Marks	Themes
1 - Route B	Foundational Catholic Theology	1 ½ hours	37.5% of qualification	90 marks (plus 6 for spelling, punctuation and grammar)	Theme 1: Origins and Meaning Theme 2: Good and Evil
2 - Route B	Applied Catholic Theology	1 ½ hours	37.5% of qualification	90 marks (plus 6 for spelling, punctuation and grammar)	Theme 3: Life and Death Theme 4: Sin and Forgiveness
3 - Route B	Study of a World Faith: Judaism	1 hour	25% of qualification	60 marks

	Autumn		Spring		Summer
	Half term 1	Half Term 2	Half Term 3	Half Term 4	Half Term 5
10	Component 1: Origins & Meanings	Component 1: Origins & Meanings RSE – Authentic Freedom	Component 1: Good & Evil		Component 3: Study of a Religion- Judaism
11	Component 2: Life and Death	Component 2: Life and Death RSE- Self Worth	Component 2: Sin & Forgiveness		Revision of past content and assessment writing skills

Useful attachments for key stage 4:

Useful attachments for key stage 3:

At Bishop Challoner we strive to offer opportunities for holistic growth. Within our Religious Education Curriculum (KS3-KS5) we have linked with the Careers department to highlight where studying religion (philosophy, ethics, a religion, etc.) can lead to a career.

Our careers model links to Gatsby Bench Mark 4- Lining curriculum learning to careers; wherein during relevant lessons we pause to highlight the skills associated and career opportunities.

The ‘career’ logo is an indication that we will be pausing to consider a particular career or careers in association with the specific learning within Religious Education.

Related Blog Posts

Tolkien Chaplaincy Awards

Chaplaincy Team reflecting on Peace Day

Litter picking in Kings Heath