Religious Studies

At Ark Boulton Academy, our Religious Studies curriculum is designed to inspire curiosity, foster respect and promote critical thinking. We believe that studying religion and ethics is essential for developing well-rounded, empathetic individuals, who can engage with the diverse world around them.   

Religious Studies is an insightful subject where pupils can explore a variety of faiths and the importance and influence of these faiths within the wider world. We aim to provide students with a solid foundation in the world’s major religions, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism. This knowledge will empower our students to understand the beliefs, practices and histories of religious traditions in the UK and beyond.    

At Ark Boulton, we intend for our pupils to leave our care with the ability to confidently express their own opinion and discuss the ethics behind each topic with their peers, as well as develop their ability to analyse, evaluate and think critically. We foster the development of critical thinking skills by encouraging students to question and evaluate religious and ethical issues. Through debate and discussion, students will learn to form well-reasoned arguments and respect diverse perspectives.   

Religious Studies is a subject rooted in curiosity. It requires us to question the motives behind people’s behaviour, the multiple and complex solutions to moral dilemmas and how our beliefs and values lead us to interpret world issues. In Religious Studies, we encourage our pupils to ask questions, reflect and debate.  We explore the moral and ethical dilemmas that arise in contemporary society and relate them to religious tolerance, as we want our students to develop a strong sense of ethics and the ability to make informed moral decisions.   

Our curriculum incorporates current events and contemporary issues related to religion and ethics, allowing students to apply their learning to real-world situations. We emphasise the importance of respect and tolerance and through open dialogue and exposure to various worldviews we intend for all our students to learn to appreciate diversity and develop empathy for others.   

Beyond our classrooms we aim to contribute to students’ personal development by encouraging reflection, self-awareness and perseverance. This is because we want our students to become responsible, ethical citizens, who can contribute positively to their communities and wider society, in line with our school mission.  

Our approach starts with our shared understanding of what makes a great theologian.  We agree that a model theologian is a recognized expert in their field, possessing a deep and nuanced understanding of theology, religious history, and philosophy. Model theologians engage in open and constructive dialogue with scholars from diverse religious and philosophical traditions. They promote interfaith and intercultural understanding through their academic work. They apply ethical and moral reflection not only to their scholarly work but also to their personal life, serving as ethical role models in the academic community and society at large.  

With this shared understanding of the discipline, our teachers aim to emulate the professional work of the theologian, supplementing their pedagogical understanding with the disciplinary and procedural knowledge of the professional.  Our teachers of Religious Studies have a deep and comprehensive understanding of the subject matter, including knowledge of various religious traditions, sacred texts, ethical principles, and philosophical concepts. They possess effective teaching skills, employing a range of instructional methods, including inquiry-based learning, discussion facilitation, and critical thinking exercises. They should be skilled in creating a classroom environment that encourages respectful dialogue and open exploration of diverse perspectives. Teachers should demonstrate cultural sensitivity and respect for students of diverse backgrounds. They should be aware of the cultural and religious diversity within their classrooms and adapt their teaching to accommodate this diversity. A model teacher in Religious Studies actively promotes inclusivity and equity.  

This work in turn influences the attitudes and behaviours of the students. Model students in Religious Studies exhibit a genuine curiosity about the subject and approach it with an open mind. They are eager to learn about and understand different religious and ethical perspectives. They possess strong critical thinking skills, which they apply to religious and ethical questions. They can analyse texts, beliefs, and arguments critically and evaluate them thoughtfully. Model students demonstrate respect for the beliefs and practices of others, even when they differ from their own. They exhibit tolerance and a willingness to engage in respectful dialogue with peers of diverse backgrounds. These students are empathetic and can appreciate the experiences and perspectives of individuals from different religious and cultural backgrounds. They strive to understand the world from others' viewpoints. Model students apply ethical principles and values in their own lives. They make thoughtful ethical decisions and consider the consequences of their actions on themselves and others. They actively engage with complex religious and philosophical questions, demonstrating a willingness to grapple with profound topics related to the meaning of life, morality, and the nature of existence.  

Through our KS3 Religious Studies curriculum, pupils explore the vast and diverse range of religious and non-religious ideas and traditions which have played and continue to play, a significant role in shaping Great Britain and the world. The curriculum takes an academically ambitious, knowledge-rich approach, enabling pupils to understand the universal questions which have preoccupied humankind through the ages and the diverse ways in which these questions have been answered. By studying some of the most significant and enduring ideas and traditions to have arisen through history, pupils’ understanding of the past, the modern world, humankind, and themselves are enriched. The curriculum ensures that pupils are prepared both intellectually and personally to engage in a complex, multi-religious and multi-secular world.

At KS4, pupils work towards a GCSE in Religious Studies, following the Edexcel B exam specification. As part of the study of Christianity, pupils will study the origins and explanations of Christian Beliefs and Practices, analyse key issues surrounding the family and society, including changing attitudes towards divorce and family types, and the stages of life from the beginning to end through questions such as “should assisted euthanasia be legalised?”.  

When studying Islam in-depth, pupils will look at how the core beliefs are manifested, the causes and consequences of crime through questions such as “should we even punish criminals?” or “How effective is the death penalty?”, the impact of conflicts on modern societies and the impact of conscientious objectors, such as Muhammed Ali. 

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