Religion and world views covers a range of ethical issues and belief systems which allow students to explore the world religions from their classroom. By studying Religion and world views at The Dorcan Academy students will develop a lifelong interest in the beliefs and practices of different cultures within their local and global communities; they will learn to understand how beliefs and practices originated, where they and their beliefs and values fit into the world and how these impact on the way people interact with the environment around them. Religion and world views lessons will support and enable students to appreciate the complex nature of having a faith and how through their actions they can make a difference to the world by developing empathy and tolerance for others’ beliefs and values.
Religion and world views aims to make students’ knowledge rich by linking new learning to previous knowledge. Through the development of links between the analysis of religious sources of wisdom and authority, students are aided in committing knowledge to their long-term memory.
Students will be equipped with the necessary religious knowledge, skills and vocabulary to develop a better understanding of themselves and the wider world enabling them to ‘Think like a Theologian’, giving them the opportunity to critically analyse and communicate their own informed judgements through their rich subject knowledge. They will develop problem solving skills and acquire an understanding of the impacts any decisions they make have on the world around them, encouraging them to take personal responsibility for their actions or to hold other people to account for theirs.
Students will develop problem solving skills and acquire an understanding of the impact belonging to a faith community can have on beliefs and practices, encouraging them to take responsibility for understanding their own beliefs or to develop empathy and compassion towards other people for theirs.
How we do this: Students are required to come to lessons with an open and enquiring mind. They are expected to come to lessons ready to learn, and challenge themselves, and in return we will ensure their lessons are challenging, engaging and inspiring to support this.
In Religious Education Full Course last year, 100% of students achieved grades 9 to 5.
Students’ learning and mastery of content is assessed continually throughout each key stage. Firstly, through formative assessment; using spelling and vocabulary tests, knowledge quizzes, questioning, home learning tasks, a variety of lesson activities and writing tasks such as deliberate practice of exam-style questions. Students will build their skills, starting with the fundamentals in year 7 to support them in answering exam questions at GCSE. Formative assessments are reviewed using live feedback, giving students the opportunity to instantly correct, amend or redraft their answers to help make progress.
At the end of each topic students sit a summative assessment. This covers the content of the course, but also involves cumulative elements to ensure prior learning continues to be assessed and secured. In Key Stage 3 these assessments cover some of the exam skills students are required to sit at Key Stage 4. For Key Stage 4 these summative assessments take the form of GCSE past papers and are marked using the GCSE criteria. Students receive formal, written bridging feedback on these assessments, and are given Dedicated Improvement and Reflection time (DIRT) as an opportunity to respond using green pen and amend these assessments before moving forward.
Students also sit Prelim exams in Y10 and 11 which allow them to sit a summative assessment as close to the actual GCSE papers as possible.
Y10 – Religions sections – Christianity and Islam
Y11 – Full Paper
Mrs Sarah Bridge – Head of Religion and World views
Miss Megan Blackwood – Teacher of Religion and World views
All students study Religion and world views throughout KS3 at The Dorcan Academy and follow a Short Course at GCSE. Students may choose the subject as a Full Course GCSE in KS4. In all year groups students receive 2 lessons a fortnight. Those who select the subject as a GCSE option will receive an additional 5 lessons a fortnight
The Humanities faculty offers a mindful art club which provides an opportunity for students to consider their own well-being and strategies for maintaining a positive frame of mind.
Revision sessions are run as optional drop ins for students.
Students can access support with their revision through signing up for after school or holiday intervention sessions.
Learning tools & flashcards, for free | Quizlet
GCSE Religious Studies – AQA – BBC Bitesize
