Subject Information - Religious Studies

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Religious Studies at Padgate academy aims to develop students’ knowledge of a wide range of religious and non-religious beliefs present in the world in which they live. 

Religious studies encourages philosophical thought, decision making skills and the search for compromise and conflict resolutions in communities and societies often divided by opposing beliefs. 

Students will use a range of enquiry techniques to investigate the key beliefs of the world religions and the practices of adherents of those faiths. 

Religious studies encourage students to become investigative and challenging in the way they approach religion, forcing them to ask probing questions and use the skills of reasoning and evaluation to arrive at their own conclusions. 

Religious Studies provides an opportunity for young people to engage with contemporary issues allowing them to develop social, cultural, political, philosophical and historical awareness. 

At a time when communities are becoming more diverse it is essential that we give our students the skills and knowledge to become religiously literate and tolerant individuals.

Our Curriculum focuses on four questions:

• What do people believe?
• How do we learn/know about religious and secular beliefs?
• How does belief affect the lives of people?
• What do I believe?

These questions are integral to the Key Stage Three and Four curriculum and are underpinned by the three Ofsted Pillars of Progression (substantive knowledge, ways of knowing and personal knowledge).