Religion and Beliefs

Overview of Department

Religious and Beliefs is about understanding what makes people “tick”. At Rye College, we teach the East Sussex Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education which is "open, broad, exploring a range of religious and non-religious worldviews." This syllabus has as its principal aim: to explore what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live, so that pupils can gain the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to handle questions raised by religion and belief, reflecting on their own ideas and ways of living. The syllabus reflects the fact that "the religious traditions in Great Britain are in the main Christian," while taking care to "accord equal respect to different religious convictions and to non-religious belief." Within the curriculum, core modules explaining the key festivals of Christianity sit alongside modules studying Islam, Judaism, Sikhism and Buddhism as well as Humanist and other non-religious beliefs.

The Education Act (2022) says that RE is a "necessary part of a broad and balanced curriculum" and every pupil has a legal entitlement to RE. One of the key roles of Religion and Beliefs is to support community cohesion and mutual understanding. In the UK, parents have the right to withdraw their children from RE on the grounds that they wish to make their own provision.

Curriculum Statement: Values and Aims

Our Religion and Beliefs curriculum aims to give students opportunities to explore the fundamental questions of human life and the spiritual dimension of human experience. Students are introduced to the beliefs, values and practices of different faiths and non-religious belief-systems, developing self-awareness as they reflect on their own views.

There is a strong emphasis on the acquisition of subject-specific vocabulary, knowledge and skills. Students will develop the key skills of analysis, critical thinking, evaluation, interpretation, and recall. Reading, understanding and analysing religious texts as sources of authority for religious worldviews is a key part of the course.

As well as examining ultimate questions about meaning and purpose in life, beliefs about God and reality, students will consider how religion and belief impacts the way in which individuals go about their lives, looking at ethical issues around war and conflict, society and relationships. We aim for students to be familiar with the way that religions and beliefs shape the society in which they live – local, national and global. The curriculum, aligned with the SACRE (East Sussex locally-agreed curriculum), builds knowledge and skills year upon year, shaping philosophical and theological thinkers who can engage with and clearly express philosophical and moral ideas and religious beliefs and practices. The acquisition of relational skills associated with understanding others, critical reflection, and respectful dialogue and debate will be highly valued in every walk of life and future career.

At the end of the course students will be more:

• Religiously literate

• Empathetic

• Respectful of the religious beliefs and practices of others.

• Resilient to extremism

• Advocates of British Values

• Culturally aware

• Ready to challenge injustice and false perceptions

• Able to critically evaluative of their own place in the world and their own world-views.

Knowledge Summaries - Term 1

Knowledge Summary - Year 7 - RE

Knowledge Summary - Year 8 - RE

Knowledge Summary - Year 10 - RE