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Religion

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Mrs N Maguire

Head of Department

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INTRODUCTION

Religion at school is a great way to learn about the beliefs, traditions, and stories that shape people’s lives all over the world. It’s not just about one religion—it's about understanding all kinds of religions like Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and many others. You’ll explore how different religions teach us about life, morality, and how we should treat others. It’s like discovering the world’s biggest stories and how they help people find meaning, purpose, and connection with each other.

Learning about religion can also help make our world a better place. It teaches us to respect people with different beliefs, appreciate cultural diversity, and understand why people think and act the way they do. By studying religion, you’ll see how it influences art, history, and even politics. It’s not just about learning facts—it’s about becoming more open-minded, compassionate, and aware of the world around you. Understanding religion can help you relate to others and make a positive impact in society.

FACILITIES

Our facilities include a large RE classroom and resource area, interactive screens, access to chrome books and a large library of resources, books, materials and religious artefacts. Our Religious Studies classroom is a bright, colourful and engaging space where students of all religions and those of none are celebrated. Our classroom reflects the diversity of the students who attend our college.

KEY STAGE 3

The Religious Studies curriculum at Key Stage 3 (KS3) is a compulsory area of learning in Northern Ireland. The programme of study gives pupils opportunities to develop their personal understanding and enhance their spiritual and ethical awareness.

The key areas of learning are:
• The Revelation of God
• The Christian Church
• Morality
• World Religions

Lessons are varied and diverse to reflect the needs and interests of our students and to reflect the increasingly multi-cultural society we live in.

Lessons at KS3 aim encourage students to develop an awareness, knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the key Christian teachings about God, Jesus Christ and the Bible. Students study topics such as the growth of Christianity, styles of worship and festivals. Students develop their ability to think about morality, to relate Christian moral principles to personal and social life, and to identify values and attitudes that influence behaviour. Students undertake lessons on two world religions other than Christianity in order to develop knowledge of and sensitivity towards the religious beliefs, practices and lifestyles of people from other religions in Northern Ireland.

GCSE

Students who choose to do GCSE Religious Studies follow the CCEA specification. This course of study encourages students to develop an enquiring, critical and reflective approach to the study of religion.

Full course students complete two units.
1) The Christian Church through a Study of the Catholic Church and the Protestant Church.
2) An Introduction to Christian Ethics.

One unit is assessed at the end of year 11 and one unit is assessed at the end of year 12. Each unit is worth 50% of their final grade.

The Christian Church
1. The birth, development and beliefs of the church
2. Key leadership roles in the Catholic Church and one Protestant Church
3. Christian worship
4. Sacraments and ordinances
5. The role of the church in contemporary society Personal and family issues

Christian Ethics
1. Personal and Family Issues
2. Matters of life and death
3. Developments in bioethics
4.Contemporary issues in Christianity
5. Modern warfare

Educational opportunities include visits to the local churches, retreat visits to Lough Derg and other places of pilgrimage, visiting speakers from various organisations such as LIFE NI and Love for Life. Students are also given opportunities to lead and participate in whole school assemblies in celebration of Christmas/Easter and other Christian and non-Christian festivals.

A-LEVEL

The CCEA GCE Religious Studies A- Level course offers an academic approach to the study of religion, ethics and philosophy. It gives students opportunities to develop their knowledge and understanding of religion.

This course is available at two levels: AS and A2. Students can take the AS units plus the A2 units for a full GCE A level qualification. They can also choose to take the AS course as a stand-alone qualification.
At AS level, students complete two units (Luke’s Gospel and Medical Ethics). Students who continue to A2 study a further two units (Synoptic Gospels and Global Ethics).

At A- level, students explore the content of the Gospel of Luke, focusing on :
• How and why the Gospel was written.
• The religious and political situation in Palestine at the time of Jesus.
• Key events in the ministry of Jesus.
• Miracles and parables.
• The Kingdom of God.
• The Passion Narrative.

In their study of medical and global ethics, students explore:
• The foundations of religious ethics.
• The role of Christian scripture in informing Christian ethics.
• The deontological approach of natural moral law.
• The teleological approaches of utilitarianism and situation ethics.
• Medical ethics, such as human infertility, surrogacy and embryo research.
• Moral debates surrounding abortion and the ethics of assisted suicide and euthanasia.
• Human Rights.
• Gender justice and sexual identity.
• War and Peace
• Justice, law and punishment

FURTHER EDUCATION & CAREERS

Religious Studies opens up a wide range of opportunities and career pathways for students. Students develop a range of skills that can be useful in a range of careers. Religious Studies can lead to further study and career opportunities in sectors.

    Academic Researcher
    Addiction Counsellor
    Art Historian
    Charity Worker
    Clergy / Chaplain
    Community Outreach
    Cross-Cultural Analyst
    Cultural Ambassador
    Ethics Consultant
    Evangelist
    Grief Counselor
    Human Rights Advocate
    Interfaith Facilitator
    Library Science
    Lobbyist
    Marriage Therapist
    Nonprofit Administrator
    Policy Analyst

GALLERY

    PR Specialist
    Religious Counselor
    Religious Events Manager
    Religious Journalist
    Religious Rights Lawyer
    Social Worker
    Spiritual Counselor
    Theology Writer
    Youth Minister
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