RS News
Posted by Richard Jenkins
Change, Change, Change!
The RS department has been hugely busy recently, seeing changes in many different areas. From new staff to entirely new courses, the department is making huge strides in delivering a quality learning experience of RS for its students.
Religious Studies goes to Paignton Zoo!
Year 7 students took part in a college visit to Paignton Zoo. It was a combined curriculum based day with the Art department based upon the theme of "Deep Learning". This was a very positive and important experience.
RS Deep Learning Day to Paignton Zoo
Year 9 Holocaust Projects
Many of our year 9 students have been showing off their creative side by producing reflective responses set on the theme of the Holocaust. After an enthralling examination of this horrific period in history, year 9 students had to produce their own personal response to what they had learned and experienced. The RS teachers of these students have been highly impressed by the quality, standard and variety of work produced. You can see a selection of examples using the link below.
See student examples
Department Teaching Staff
Posted by Richard Jenkins
The department has recently added a further member of staff to the department, Miss Louise Howell. Louise joins us at a very exiting time within the department, and has steadily become an important aspect to the teaching team.
- Subject Leader: Richard Jenkins
- Teacher of Religious Studies: Carol Murray
- Teacher of Religious Studies: Sarah Gotting
- Teacher of Religious Studies: Julia Barker
- Teacher of Religious Studies: Louise Howell
Key Stage Three Curriculum
Posted by Richard Jenkins
Religious Studies at Key Stage 3 attempts to be as vibrant and relevant to students as possible.
Students receive a far reaching leaning experience of the many global religions, and receive continual opportunites to explore contemporary moral issues that may have an impact upon their lives. Religious studies benefits from having a particularly well resourced department, which is always being added to.
A typical learning experience will normally consist of the use of many different resources by their teacher.
Full details of RS at SDCC at Key Stage 3 here
Key Stage Four Curriculum
Posted by Richard Jenkins
All students in Key Stage 4 are required to take GCSE (Short Course) Religious Studies as one of their compulsory subjects by law.
At present, this curriculum area is being overhauled in line with new courses that are being taught from September 2009. From this time, year 10 students will be studying Unit 2, Religion and Life Issues from the AQA examination board. The department are very enthusiastic about this new course, and it is anticipated that our students will find the course even more challenging, interesting and relevant.
The Religious Studies department also offers students the opportunity to take this RS as a full option for GCSE. Students taking this option as a GSCE subject study an additional element of the exam board specification, to attain a full GCSE. This option is growing rapidly in popularity, with over 100 students studying this at present. Year 11 students already undertaking this course study Module 4 from the same AQA specification. Year 10 students will be studying Unit 3, Religion and Morality, from the new AQA examination specification.
Full details of RS at SDCC at Key Stage 4 here
Key Stage Five Curriculum
Posted by Richard Jenkins
Philosophy and Ethics is a sixth form choice with a difference, aimed at encouraging young people to truly analyse what makes them who they are on a philosophical and moral level. The course endeavours to develop within students a more accute concept of ethical morality, combined with a profound philosophical understanding of the nature of the world.
This process is considered, at AS, through a parallel investigation of ethical theory related to moral decision making and applied ethics, alongside an exploration of philosophical concepts about the world in which we live, and the possible existence of a God.
Students electing to continue Philosophy and Ethics at A2 level will consider topics such as the nature and role of the conscience in relation to moral decision making, and the concept of an existence of a soul and its relationship to possible life existing after death.
In terms of further education and career prospects, this option choice provides a myriad of application and life opportunities, developing within students numerous applicable skills and abitlities applicable to the working environment.
Full details of Philosophy & Ethics at SDCC at KS5 here
Equipment Requirements
Posted by Richard Jenkins
Students are required to bring basic equipment with them to each lesson. All other materials/equipment are provided by the class teacher. Replacements for these items in the event of loss or damage can be collected via the college shop in the library.
It is an important message for students to accept that not bringing the correct equipment does impact upon learning for the whole class, often delaying the start to a lesson. Students are reminded of the importance of being as organised as possible.
Home Learning in Religious Studies
Posted by Richard Jenkins
Please refer above to the necessary Key Stage of your child for detailed explanations of home learning procedures within this subject.
Links and Online Resources
Posted by Richard Jenkins
Within Religious Studies students are encouraged as much as possible to use a wide range of resources as part of their learning, development and revision. Within lessons, a myriad of learning experiences are encouraged and used, but there are often many opportunities for students to extend their learning and understanding. Below are listed a selection of relevant on-line and revisison materials relevant to each year group. Please note that these are only a selection of what is available. If you require additional suggestions, please encourage your child to discuss this with their class teacher during their next lesson.
Key Stage 3 Research Websites
Year 7
What is Buddhism?
What Is Islam?
Animals and The Environment - How does Paignton Zoo Try To Make A Differece?
What Is Sikhism?
Year 8
Explore Many of the themes studied in Year 8 here
What Is Sikhism?
Year 9
Holocaust Studies
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
www.remember.org
The Holocaust History Project
The History Place: Holocaust Timeline
The Holocaust: A Tragic Legacy
The Holocaust Chronicle
The Jewish Virtual Library
Candle Holocaust Museum
What Are Rites of Passage?
Key Stage 4 Revision Powerpoint Presentations
These revision presentations represent only part of the Religious Studies revision program for Key Stage 4 students. Students are also provided with many additional resources and revision aids as part of their revision lessons leading up to their exam.
Short and Full Course Students:
Full Course Students Only:
GCSE Revision Website
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Offline Resources and Revision Guides
Posted by Richard Jenkins
For copies of and access to offline resources, please encourage your child to consult their class teacher. Examination revision guides can be purchased from the college library.
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