The Religious Education curriculum at Westfield Academy 

Religious Education is a subject that prepares students to become national and global citizens who can understand and use different knowledge and skills to investigate different world views. RE teaches students to argue, listen, understand and respect the views of those around them. Students evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different ideas and philosophies, enabling them to form their own informed conclusion. Lessons centre around dialogue, debate and discussion, allowing students to explore challenging life questions.  

KS3 focusses on studying different religions before moving onto more philosophical content and ethical discussions to prepare students for Religious Education at KS4 and 5. These lessons are ambitious and contemporary, focusing on world issues with a cross-curricular focus, enabling students’ ability to explain knowledge, evaluate big issues, ask intelligent questions and come to reasoned conclusions.  At key stage 3, all students study religious education. They will study Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hindu Dharma, Buddhist Dharma, Sikhi, the Influence of Greek philosophy, ethics, exploring the holocaust, religion and world views, life After Death and Ethical Issues.

Religious education is also covered in our wider curriculum through PSHE, citizenship, assemblies and the whole school form-time program.

GCSE Religious Education enables pupils to continue to deepen their knowledge of Christianity and Islam. They explore themes such as Marriage and the Family, Life and Death, Crime and Punishment and Peace and Conflict. They will apply their theoretical knowledge of Christianity and Islam to these themes to compare the main features of these major world religions.  

At key stage 4, Religious Education becomes an option subject. Students will use the Edexcel specification and will study Christianity, Islam, marriage and the family, matters of life after death, crime and punishment, peace and conflict.

Religious Studies in the Sixth Form 

A-level Religious Studies provides students with the skills of analysis and evaluation which are invaluable in any job and an integral component of many degree courses. A-Level students who have completed the course have successfully progressed to further study and on average 30% go on to professional careers in areas such as law, business, politics and education. This is a well regarded qualification for further study at university and, as The Russell Group of universities say, ‘it enables students to acquire skills that will prepare them for higher education or the world of work’.

At key stage 5, students will continue to use the Eduqas specification and will study the development of Christianity, philosophy and religion, religion and ethics. 

Students can further their studies at university and go on to study religion, ethics, humanities and social sciences and pursue careers in journalism, teaching and charity work.