Ripon Cathedral Choir School

General Philosophy

By including Religious Studies in our curriculum, we hope to foster a set of Christian values in our children enabling them to make decisions and choices as they go through life. We aim to provide an awareness, understanding and respect of the main faiths of the world, whilst establishing a Christian code of moral behaviour. Pupils will extend their thinking and analytical skills and their creative, imaginative and emotional development.

Religious studies enable children to investigate and reflect on some of the most fundamental questions asked by people. At Ripon Cathedral Choir School, children reflect on what it means to have a faith and to develop their own spiritual knowledge and understanding. We help children learn from religions as well as about religions.

Aims

The aims of religious studies are:

o Develop an informed and sensitive understanding of Christianity and other principal religions;

o Enable children to form a tolerant attitude towards people of different faiths;

o Develop an understanding of what it means to be committed to a religious tradition;

o To help children relate religious beliefs, values and practices to their own and to others’ experiences of life;

o To develop explorative, analytical and reflective skills;

o With other areas of the curriculum, to contribute towards the children’s moral guidance.

By the end of key stage 1, we hope that children will be able to: retell religious stories, and identify some religious beliefs, teachings and practices , recognising that some are characteristic of more than one religion; suggest the meaning of some religious symbols and stories; respond sensitively to the experiences and feelings of others, including those with a faith, and to other people's values and concerns in relation to matters of right and wrong; realise that some questions that cause people to wonder are difficult to answer. (Level 2.)
By the end of key stage 2, we hope that children will be able to: describe the key beliefs and teachings of the religions studied, connecting and making some comparisons between religions; show understanding of what belonging to a religion involves; show how religious beliefs, ideas and feelings can be expressed in a variety of forms, giving meanings for some symbols, stories and language, using technical terminology; ask questions about the significant experiences of key figures, puzzling aspects of life and moral and religious issues and suggest answers from their own and others' experience, making reference to the teaching of religions and showing understanding of why certain things are held to be right and wrong. (Level 4.)

In Forms 7 and 8, we hope to prepare the children for Common Entrance by studying the foundational biblical texts of the Judeo-Christian tradition: helping children to acquire knowledge , develop understanding and consider the influence of the beliefs, values and traditions of another religion; considering religious and other responses to moral issues; responding to the fundamental questions of life raised by religion and developing skills relevant to the study of religion.

Objectives

In order to fulfil the above aims, we will

• Develop the children’s knowledge and understanding of Christianity, Judaism, Sikhism, Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism, by teaching the main beliefs, customs and methods of worship of these religions.

• Explore issues within and between these faiths to help children understand and respect different religions, beliefs, values and traditions, understanding the influence of these on individuals and societies.

• Enable children to use specific language, encourage listening and empathy to develop enquiry and response skills.

• Encourage children to reflect on, analyse and evaluate their beliefs, values and practises and communicate their responses.