EPR

Vision

At Birchwood we want students to develop an appreciation of the wide range of beliefs and values that encompass the world. We encourage our students to develop their own world view whilst being respectful and knowledgeable about views different to their own recognising that we live in an increasingly secular yet pluralist society.

Religion continues to play a key role in the world today, it influences events around the world in a variety of ways. It impacts the lives of everyone, whether they are a follower of a particular faith or hold no religious beliefs. At Birchwood we aim to develop pupils’ religious literacy and the ability to understand and engage effectively with religious, philosophical and ethical issues.

The role of Religious Studies is not to promote a particular world faith or advocate a particular view of religion nor should it advocate for religion to have a greater role in Britain today. The purpose of Religious Studies is to equip pupils with the knowledge and skills required to understand religion, engage in meaningful discussions about religion and critically evaluate the role, purpose and influence of religion both in the UK and the wider world.

We want our students to appreciate the importance of ethics and moral decision making and to consider how religious and non religious attitudes impact on these.

How do we build on what students learn at KS2?

We want to ensure that our students are thoroughly supported in their transition from KS2 to KS3 EPR. In order to do this, we work with local primary schools so that our curriculums complement one another. In year 7, we purposely prioritise revisiting and rebuilding on the following:

Comparative religions pulls together many of the different strands of RS that students will have experienced in primary schools.
Religious concepts of worship, authority and morality
Christianity, the life and teachings of Jesus
Christian ideas about God

What we cover at KS3 and beyond?

In Key Stage 3 students have the opportunity to investigate religions and beliefs in depth. These include Christianity recognising it as the dominant faith in the UK in addition to Judaism, Hinduism and Sikhism. Students also investigate a range of ethical and philosophical concepts such as immortality, miracles, the sanctity of life and the problem of evil.

Comparative Religion
Judaism
Christianity

Hinduism
Christianity
Islam

Philosophy
Ethics
Islam

At KS4 students cover the Eduqas Route A syllabus covering 3 main areas.

Ethics and Philosophy around 4 themes;
- Issues of Relationships
- Issues of Life and Death
- Issues of Good and Evil
- Issues of Human Rights
Christianity beliefs and practices
Sikhism beliefs and practices

Beyond the curriculum, we provide:

A regular LGBT+ discussion group offering a range of discussion topics of issues of inclusion, diversity and human rights.
Pride assembly for Pride month

What do we cover in KS4 and how do we aspire towards KS5?

We want to ensure that our students are ready for life beyond KS4. As part of this preparation, we dedicate time to nurturing an interest in EPR beyond their time at school:

Regular discussion in lessons about current issues around the world such as abortion rights in the US.
Discussions with students about A further A level studies and the kinds of courses available.
Highlighting topics we study at KS3/4 which often are developed at A Level such as ethical systems e.g Natural Law, Arguments for the existence of God, the relationships between science and religion.

KS3 Curriculum Overview

Year	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3
Year 7	Comparative religions What is religion? How did religion develop? What is religion about? How do religions use symbols? What teachings and practices do religions have in common?	Judaism What does it mean to be Jewish? How are Jewish people divided? What do Jewish people believe? What is the Tenakh? How are Jewish people guided through life? Who are the leaders in the Jewish faith? Who were Abraham and Moses?	Christianity How has Christianity influenced the UK? How do Christians understand God? How was Jesus’s birth special for Christian’s? Why did Jesus perform miracles? What are parables? What influences Christian morality?
Building and revisiting	Worship, authority and morality.	Monotheism, ideas about God, ethics and morality, sources of authority.	Ideas about God, the Trinity, Life of Jesus (KS2) Christian ethics and morality. Importance of Christianity in the UK. Celebrations (KS2)
Assessment	RAP Tasks	RAP Tasks	RAP Tasks
	•Describe the origins of religion. (LQ 1) •Describe two sources of authority in religion (LQ5)	•Explain what it means to be Jewish? (LQ 1) •Describe Jewish beliefs about God (LQ 3)	•‘Christianity doesn’t affect the UK nowadays’ (LQ1) •‘Jesus was a trouble maker’ evaluation (LQ 6)

Year	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3
Year 8	Hinduism How do Hindu’s understand God? How does belief in karma and ahimsa influence a Hindu’s morality? How do Hindu scriptures inspire? What are the main features of a Mandir? How do Hindus worship at home? What influences Hindu morality?	Christianity 2 Why is Easter so important? How do Christian’s believe people can get to heaven? What caused the great schism? How do Christians use the Bible? What are the Gospels? What does Christian worship look like?	Islam How does Islam contribute to UK culture? What influenced the life of Muhammad? Why is Muhammad so important to Muslims? How is the Qur’an important for Muslims? What are the five pillars of Islam? What influences Muslim morality?
Building and revisiting	Ideas about God, sources of authority, different types of worship. Symbols and morality/ethics.	Ideas about life and death, Christian celebrations, Symbols, places of worship, different groups within a faith (churches) leadership in Christianity, Communal and private worship.	Ideas about God, different groups within a faith, celebrations, leadership, ethics and morality, celebrations.
Assessment	RAP Tasks	RAP Tasks	RAP Tasks
	•Explain how many Hindus understand God (LQ1) • •Explain why many Hindu’s worship at home (LQ6)	•Explain what Christians believe a person needs to do to reach heaven. (LQ2) • •Old books such as a Bible can not help people in the modern world’ (LQ5)	Explain how Muslims have positively contributed to the UK (LQ1) Explain the five pillars of Islam (LQ8)

Year	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3
Year 9	Philosophy Can the existence of God be proven? Can science prove that God does not exist? Can evil exist in a world created by God? Does anything live on after death? Do miracles really happen? How do believers think God is revealed to humanity?	Ethics What is ethics? Should the law always be followed? How special is life? Do religious people have a duty special duty to take care of the planet? Should animals have rights? What are religious attitudes to drug use? Is everyone equal? What can be done about poverty?	Islam How does Islam contribute to UK culture? What influenced the life of Muhammad? Why is Muhammad so important to Muslims? Why is the Quran important for Muslims? What are the five pillars of Islam? What influences Muslim morality?
Building and revisiting	Concept of God, nature of God, ideas about life after death.	Morality and ethics, impact of religious belief on morality.	Ideas about God, different groups within a faith, celebrations, leadership, ethics and morality, celebrations.
Assessment	RAP Tasks	RAP Tasks	RAP Tasks
	If God were omnipotent, he would not allow suffering’ evaluation (LQ3) Explain how religious people believe God can be revealed to humanity. (LQ6)	There is never a good reason to violate the sanctity of life (LQ3) From two religions explain their attitudes to equality. (LQ7)	Explain how Muslims have positively contributed to the UK (LQ1) ‘Anyone who wants to be an imam should be able to be one’ (LQ7)

KS4 Curriculum Overview

Year	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3
Year 10	2023-24 N/A	2023-24 N/A	2023-24 N/A
Building and revisiting
Assessment

Year	HT1	HT2	HT3	HT4	Summer Term
Year 11	Good and evil What makes an act wrong? What causes crime? What are the aims of punishment? How are criminals treated in the 21st Century Why do people suffer? Is it ever right to execute someone? Is it possible to forgive?	Human rights What rights do humans have? How do religious people support human rights. Should people always be able to express their views? Should you always stand up for what you believe in? Are some forms of poverty worse than others?	Christianity What is the nature of God for Christians? Why is the birth, crucifixtion and resurrection of Jesus important? What is salvation and how is it attained? How do Christians worship? What are the sacraments and why are they important? Why are Taizé and Walsingham important to some Christians? What do Christians celebrate? What is the role of Christianity in the UK today? What is the role of Christianity in the world?		N/A
Building and revisiting	Ethics and morality, ideas about right and wrong. Sanctity of life, Christian and Sikh teachings on morality	Teachings about poverty, attitudes to those in need, sanctity of life, equality	Nature of God, problem of evil and suffering, the Trinity, Jesus’ death and resurrection, afterlife, private, communal worship, celebrations, Christianity in the UK.
Assessment	RAP Tasks	RAP Tasks	RAP Tasks
	From two religions you have studied explain their attitudes to forgiveness. ‘Some crimes deserve the death penalty’ Mock Exam	From two religions you have studied explain their attitudes to the dignity of human life ‘Religious people should do more to fight for human rights’ Second Mock	Explain the importance of the crucifixion of Jesus. (p172, 173, 187) ‘The birth of Jesus is the most important event in the life of Jesus’ Describe some of the different ways Christians can worship God. (p190-193) Explain why baptism is important for Christians (p196)