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Religious Studies at Lawrence Sheriff School covers a broad range of faiths and topics through various learning styles and activities.  

Religious Education is taught across all years and abilities. It is compulsory up to and including Key Stage 4. There is the required teaching of Religious Education in Key Stage 5 also but only those taking the AS or A2 will sit an examination in the subject. We teach about belief and faith but there is no expectation of such on the pupil’s behalf. All faiths and belief systems are treated with respect and courtesy so theists, atheists and agnostics may feel comfortable and valued within the lessons.   

In Key stage 3 Religious Education we look at six major world faiths i.e. Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, Hinduism and Buddhism. We consider their origins, sacred writings, their beliefs and how these are lived out in daily life. We seek to enable pupils to make links between religious and secular thought, to interpret and express insights, to show coherent and understanding of faiths and evaluate them, to analyse belief and justify their views. The top pupils will be able to show in depth analysis, give independent, well informed and highly reasoned insights and provide well-substantiated and balanced conclusions. We use the Warwickshire agreed syllabus for Religious Education for assessment. This enables us to review and enable pupil progression effectively.  

In Key Stage 4 Religious Education we follow the Edexcel examination board GCSE in Religious Studies. This compares issues within Society and Life with Religious beliefs. We consider the Christian and Islamic faiths as a matter of course though pupils with a good grounding in another faith are welcome to follow the course according to the doctrines of their faith if it is one covered by the exam board. Pupils learn how religious believers consider such things as conflict, family life, media representations, medicine, the environment and various other issues. We consider secular concepts too to ensure a balance of views and understanding. All pupils sit a full GCSE by the end of the course. This is a broad and exacting course which focuses the pupil’s awareness of religion as an influence on human behaviour and lifestyles.  

In Key Stage 5 Religious Education we follow the OCR examination board AS and A2 courses in Philosophy and Ethics of Religion. This is a broad ranging, demanding and engaging course considering Greek philosophy, theistic arguments for the existence of God, arguments against the existence of God from philosophy and science, ethical theories, Christian ethics and focuses in on specific issues such as euthanasia, genetic engineering, abortion and others. Pupils are expected to do research of their own outside of lessons. We learn through discussion, seminars, presentations and debate. This is a genuinely popular topic with Sixth formers who have taken this option.  

If you have any further questions please do get in contact with a member of the department through the school office.