At Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form we just don’t learn just about how many people are religious we learn many other aspects:

  • We understand other people’s beliefs with mutual respect
  • Understand how and why people view the world differently
  • Exploring the fundamental questions of how religion applies to family, life, peace & conflict and crime & punishment
  • Establishing where our students’ views and beliefs stand and how they apply it to their lives and community
  • Understand our values and beliefs

We believe that religion is an integral part of many people's lives and is often transferred into what we say, write and how we conduct our lives. At times religious practices and beliefs are portrayed publicly, for us our students need to understand these reporting’s in enabling them to appreciate what is happening and to embrace these times. As our communities are becoming more diverse, we must establish a religious literate, tolerant society with mutual respect. As a community religion enables greater community cohesion in the hope to reduce any indifferences. Religious Studies help student to respect themselves and establish what they own identity is. Furthermore, students understand and appreciate other views and reinforces their own rights and responsibilities. We respect and value those who do not identify with a particular group, those who may believe that there is more to life than material objects and having a spiritual belief is crucial. At times it can be difficult to define what we may define as spiritual; some connect this to a theist belief; some associate it to power wonder and apply it to nature and the universe. Whatever our schools and students’ beliefs we have established the importance of coming together and respect each person’s beliefs and values.

Curriculum maps

KS3

  • Understanding what types of beliefs people hold and how they view the world?
  • Exploring how the world was created? – Scientific versus Religious
  • Applying different beliefs and experiences to people’s experiences of life
  • Understand the different beliefs, practices and customs of Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Judaism and Hinduism

Our students develop skills that are not confined to only the subject. Students will establish skills of understand the language of religion, evaluate other opinions and views in line with their own. For our students to develop these skills we have built in relevant learning activities and time to explore the range of views that exist.

KS4: Religious Studies AQA

We have established a popular GCSE course which follows the AQ syllabus involving two examinations:

Paper 1: Christianity and Islam – beliefs, teachings and practices

Paper 2: Thematic studies

  • Theme A: Religion & Family
  • Theme B: Religion & Life
  • Theme D: Peace & Conflict
  • Theme E: Crime & Punishment

If students do not undertake the GCSE options, all students will continue to follow the non-examination course in PPP exploring beliefs and the six main religions.

Highly recommended reading:

Enrichment

We are SNS recognise and celebrate all religious events, our Head of RE produces assembly power points and tutor activities around these celebrations. We also have a designated prayer space to allow all faiths to maintain their practices of worship during the school day.

Within the GCSE option students visit St Pauls Cathedral and a main mosque in London.

We also visit the local church during the Christianity unit in KS3.

Career and future pathways

At SNS we believe that our students learning and understanding of religion gives them a deeper appreciation of all views that they will encounter in the wider world. Our thematic studies as part of the GCSE option enables our students to tackle questions of moral and philosophical dilemmas in university and the world of work.