Religious Education

Intent 

Religious Education is an important curriculum subject. It is important in its own right and also makes a unique contribution to the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our students and supports wider community cohesion.

Religious Education at The Oswaldtwistle School is delivered through flexible cross-curricular learning experiences within the Curriculum for Life programme of study.

We recognise that the UK has a rich heritage of culture and diversity and fully appreciate that religion and belief for many people forms a crucial part of their culture and identity. Our RE curriculum is designed to give students the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to inform values and reflect on what they say and how they behave.

Religious education provokes challenging questions about the ultimate meaning and purpose of life, beliefs about God, the self and the nature of reality, issues of right and wrong, and what it means to be human. RE also contributes to students’ personal development and well-being and to community cohesion by promoting mutual respect and tolerance in a diverse society. RE offers opportunities for personal reflection and spiritual development, deepening the understanding of the significance of religion in the lives of others; individually, communally and cross-culturally.

The RE delivered incorporates aspects of the British Values themes, the rule of law, respect and tolerance, individual liberty and democracy. It also helps to develop and nurture the social, moral, spiritual and cultural characteristics of our young people. We believe that the quality of our provision in these areas is reflected by, and in fact is, a cornerstone of our ethos, vision and beliefs as a school. These are not bolt-on curriculum initiatives but are values represented in everything that we stand for as a school and community.

At The Oswaldtwistle School, our RE curriculum gives students the opportunities to:

  • To ask challenging questions about the meaning and purpose of life, beliefs, the self, issues of right and wrong, and what it means to be human.
  • It encourages students to explore their own beliefs (whether they are religious or non-religious), in the light of what they learn, as they examine issues of religious belief and faith and how these impact on personal, institutional and social ethics; and to express their responses. This also builds resilience to anti-democratic or extremist narratives.
  • It enables students to build their sense of identity and belonging, which helps them flourish within their communities and as citizens in a diverse society.
  • It teaches students to develop respect for others, including people with different faiths and beliefs, and helps to challenge prejudice.
  • It prompts students to consider their responsibilities to themselves and to others, and to explore how they might contribute to their communities and to wider society.
  • It encourages The Oswaldtwistle School norms; kindness, humility, respect and forgiveness.

Topics of study within the Curriculum for Life programme of study that embrace aspects of RE include;

Year 7/8

Year 9

Year 10

Year 11

What is your community?

FGM – culture vs religion

 

Marriage

 

Pregnancy

Community spirit

 

Terrorism

 

Peace and War

Organ donation

Desert

island living – religions

Extremism

 

Honour based violence

 

Abortion

What is your identity?

Anti-Semitism

 

LGBT views across the world

 

LGBT rights across the world

Equality Act 2010

 

 

 

British values

 

 

Multicultural Britain

 

 

 

 

Breaking down stereotypes

 

 

 

 

Prejudice and discrimination

 

 

 

 

Islamophobia

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our students are encouraged to take part in a wide range of activities and experiences across and beyond the curriculum, contributing fully to the life of our school and local community. In so doing, every pupil learns to recognise their own worth, work well with others and become increasingly responsible for their own learning and personal development. Students partake in cultural and religious visits, including and not limited to Lancaster Cathedral, Raza Jamia Mosque, St Annes Synagogue, People’s Museum, Imperial War Museum, Samlesbury Hall and International Slavery Museum. Students reflect on their experiences and learn to understand how they are developing personally and socially, tackling many issues that will prepare them well for wider society.

Cultural enrichment takes part through thematic Drop-Down Days and the assembly programme, which run in line with the CFL curriculum, in order to extend RE learning and offer wider opportunities. The assembly programme is flexible and available on the school website. We invite guest speakers into school to speak to the school community, as this gives us the opportunity to bring learning to life. Visitors include local faith leaders and community leaders.

As Religious Education is delivered through the CFL curriculum no formal qualifications are offered at KS4, however, if a student wishes to study RE at GCSE level, we will put measures in place to accommodate this.