RELIGIOUS STUDIES (including Global Eye)

Years 3 – 6 follow the Religious Studies syllabus, which reflects the inclusive Christian ethos of St Aubyns. It provides an outline of the Old and New Testaments and a brief introduction to four other World Religions. Pupils in Years 7 and 8 follow the Global Eye syllabus which combines a more detailed examination of the major world religions with some of the current contemporary issues dealt with in PSHE together with time being set aside to look at current affairs and politics.

AIMS

During the time a pupil is in the prep department we aim to:-

  1. Assist pupils in their knowledge and understanding of some of the main themes of the Bible.
  2. Encourage them to explore how the selected passages relate to their own experience as well as to the contemporary issues of the wider world.
  3. Investigate the key beliefs and teachings of the major religions of the world.
  4. Respond to the teachings and experiences of inspirational people and look at a range of contemporary moral issues by relating to their own and others’ lives.

ATTITUDES TO BE FOSTERED IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES

Attitudes such as respect, care and concern should be promoted through all areas of school life, but there are some attitudes that are fundamental to this subject in that they are prerequisites for entering fully into the study of religions and learning from that experience.

It is to be hoped that we can help to foster:-

  • Fairness – this includes listening to the views of others with an open mind, considering them carefully, willingness to consider evidence and argument and readiness to look beyond surface impressions
  • Respect – this includes respecting those with different views and customs from our own, recognizing the rights of others to hold their own views, avoidance of ridicule and appreciation that people’s own religious convictions are often deeply felt
  • Self–Understanding  - this includes developing a mature sense of self-worth and value and developing the capacity to discern the personal relevance of religious questions.
  • Enquiry – this includes curiosity and a desire to seek after truth, developing an awareness of bias, prejudice, ambiguities and paradox and willingness to consider insight and imagination as ways of perceiving reality.
  • Commitment – this includes understanding the importance of commitment to a set of values by which to live, willingness to develop values and commitments and the ability to be challenged.

SCHEME OF WORK

Year 3 - Creation, The Fall, Cain and Abel, Noah, Tower of Babel, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses; Introduction to Buddhism.

Year 4 - Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Samson, Samuel, Kinf David, King Solomon, Elijah; Introduction to Judaism.

Year 5 - The beginning of the Gospel story, John the Baptist, Jesus begins his ministry, Jesus and his disciples, Miracles; Introduction to Hinduism.

Year 6 - Parables, The Easter Story, How the Church began; Introduction to Islam; Preparation for Global Eye

Year 7 - Buddhism; Islam; Hinduism; Drugs and drug-taking; Physical Health; Democratic Processes; Current Affairs topics as relevant.

Year 8 - Judaism; Tobacco and Alcohol; Crime and Punishment; Current Affairs topics as relevant; Leavers’ programme which includes: talks by the local police laision officer, talks and follow up activities from the Childrens’ Fire and Burns Trust, a lecture on drug abuse from Narconnon, a First Aid Course, a Life Saving Course plus a week of challenge and self discovery at Outward Bound, Ullswater.

OTHER INFORMATION

Bibles

Although the Department provides all the necessary materials for study, pupils may find it helpful to have access to a Bible. In Years 3 and 4 the text normally used is the Lion Children's Bible. It is widely available and second hand copies are not difficult to find. Years 5 and 6 use an unabridged text of the New Testament. The most commonly available text is the Good News Bible - again widely available. Alternatively, you could try one of the electronic options below.

  • There are several websites around where you can look up Bible passages in various different translations. The best of them is Bible Gateway - it also has plenty of other material.
  • If you are after a free electronic text then try the WEB (World English Bible). It is public domain (copyright free).
  • However, you get the best of both of these with a software package. E-Sword is my favourite. It's free, contains a variety of different translations (including Latin, Greek, Hebrew and Simplified Chinese) and a wealth of other material and is easy to set up and use.

Religious Links

You might find some of these sites interesting.