R.E.
Staff​
Head of Department
Mrs Lisa Carlin
Subject Teachers
Mrs J Lavelle
Miss C Ferguson
Introduction
Religious Education is a compulsory area of the curriculum and plays a vital role in the spiritual and moral development of the pupil. The religious education programme in our school promotes not only the study of religion, but also religious formation. Pupils are given the opportunity to participate in liturgies - Class Masses, Year 14 Leavers Mass, Assemblies, Prayer Services, and in Lent, Reconciliation Services. They are encouraged to put Christian values into action. Thus pupils work on behalf of the poor, fund-raising for Charities and campaigning for Human Rights.
Key Stage 3
Key Stage 3 programme of study has Four Attainment Targets.
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Attainment Target 1: The Revelation of God.
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Pupils develop an awareness, knowledge, understanding and appreciation of key Christian teachings about God, Jesus Christ and about the Bible; they develop an ability to relate the Bible to life.
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Attainment Target 2: The Christian Church
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Pupils develop a knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the growth of Christianity, of its worship, prayer and religious language; they develop a growing awareness of the meaning of belonging to a Christian tradition, and sensitivity towards the beliefs of others.
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Attainment Target 3: Morality
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Pupils develop their ability to think and judge about morality, to relate Christian moral principles to personal and social life, and to identify values and attitudes that influence behaviour.
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Attainment Target 4: World Religions
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Pupils will be introduced to two world religions other than Christianity in order to develop sensitivity towards the religious beliefs, practices and lifestyles of people of other religions in Northern Ireland
Key Stage 4
GCSE: Modular Syllabus
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Course Description
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Religious Education is a compulsory area of the curriculum and plays a vital role in the spiritual and moral development of the pupil. The Religious Education programme in our school promotes not only the study of religion, but also religious formation. Pupils are given the opportunity to participate in liturgies - Class Masses, Year 14 Leavers Mass, Assemblies, Prayer Services, and in Lent, Reconciliation Services. They are encouraged to put Christian values into action. Thus pupils work on behalf of the poor, fund-raising for Charities and campaigning for Human Rights.
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The GCSE Syllabus has two sections
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a) The Christian Life and St Mark’s Gospel- examined as a module at the end of Year 11
b) Effects of The Roman Catholic Tradition upon aspects of Christian Lifestyle and Behaviour- examined as a module at the end of Year 12
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The scheme of assessment comprises two written papers (50% each).
AS/A Level (A2)
- Examing Board: CCEA
Introduction
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Religious Education is a compulsory area of the curriculum and plays a vital role in the spiritual and moral development of the pupil. The religious education programme in our school promotes not only the study of religion, but also religious formation. Pupils are given the opportunity to participate in liturgies - Class Masses, Year 14 Leavers Mass, Assemblies, Prayer Services, and in Lent, Reconciliation Services. They are encouraged to put Christian values into action. Thus pupils work on behalf of the poor, fund-raising for Charities and campaigning for Human Rights.
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Qualification & Specification details:
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The full Advanced GCE A level award is based on students’ marks from the AS (40 %) and the A2 (60 %).
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The full Advanced GCE A level award is based on students’ marks from the AS (40 %) and the A2 (60 %).
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This course is divided into four units: two units at AS level and two units at A2. At both AS level and A2 there are four areas of study: Textual Studies, Systematic Study of One Religion, Religion and Ethics, and Philosophy of Religion. These areas of study are further subdivided into units, as listed in the table below.
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Students must study two of these units at AS level and a further two units at A2. At AS level, each unit must be from a different area of study. Students may study units from the same areas of study at A2 or choose units from different areas of study.
Content
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Textual Studies
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AS 1: An Introduction to the Gospel of Luke
AS 2: An Introduction to the Acts of the Apostles
AS 3: An Introduction to Themes in the Old Testament
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Systematic Study of One Religion
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AS 4: The Origins and Development of the Early Christian Church to AD 325
AS 5: The Celtic Church in Ireland in the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Centuries
AS 6: An Introduction to Islam
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Religion and Ethics
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AS 7: Foundation of Ethics with Special Reference to Issues in Medical Ethics
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Philosophy of Religion
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AS 8: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion
Assessment
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Two 1 hour 20 minute external written examinations
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Students answer one from two questions in Section A and one from two questions in Section B.
Weightings
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Each Paper is worth 50% of AS
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20% of A Level
Content
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Textual Studies
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A2 1: Themes in the Synoptic Gospels
A2 2: Themes in Selected Letters of St Paul
A2 3: Themes in the Old Testament
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Systematic Study of One Religion
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A2 4: Themes in the Early Church and the Church Today
A2 5: Themes in the Celtic Church, Reformation and Post-Reformation Church
A2 6: Islam in a Contemporary Context
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Religion and Ethics
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AS 7: Global Ethics
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Philosophy of Religion
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AS 8: Themes in the Philosophy of Religion
Assessment
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Two 2 hour external written examinations
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Students answer two from three questions in Section A and the compulsory synoptic question in Section B.
Weightings
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Each Paper is worth 50% of A2
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30% of A Level
Social & Spiritual Awareness Programme - Years 13/14
Each Year 13 & 14 student has two Social and Spiritual Awareness classes per week. Issues such as drugs education, human rights, sexuality, and attitudes to religion are discussed and awareness is raised. Pupils are also given the opportunity to explore the spiritual side of their lives
Religious Studies & Careers
Specialist jobs directly related to Religious Studies are Teaching and Ministry, both Ordained and Lay. A qualification in Religious Studies can be useful for archaeology, law, journalism, nursing, social work and personnel management. Employers who like applicants to have knowledge of themselves and their role in society view it favourably.