RE

Introduction

Religious Studies is taught to all students at Alperton, and we remain proud of the superb results achieved by our students.

Alperton is lucky to have three full-time specialist teachers, and the department is grateful for the input of help from teachers of other subjects; success in RS is down to respect for others and a willingness to ask questions and express opinions with confidence.

KS3

All students at KS3 have one hour of RS each week. Although students are introduced to the key beliefs of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Sikhism and Islam throughout Years 7-9, we are more interested in studying (in Years 7-8) how these traditions respond to some of the big issues facing today's world. For example, in Year 7 we consider different religious teachings concerning the Environment and in Year 8 we look at the possibilities for multi-cultural harmony between different traditions in the city of Jerusalem. The Year 9 course functions as an introduction to GCSE studies. As such we aim to foster high level thinking skills by tackling the "Ultimate Questions" of human existence: Where did I come from? Why is there suffering? What happens after death? and the conflicting claims of science and religion are the main topics studied.

KS4

At KS4 all students follow the AQA GCSE 'short' course in RS, "Truth, Spirituality and Moral Issues.' This excellent and stimulating course consists of one compulsory topic and three options as follows:

• Truth and Spirituality: What are the key features common to all religions What is meant by the "Spiritual Dimension" of human existence? (Compulsory)
• Matters of Life: Religious attitudes to fertility treatments and cloning.
• Matters of Death: Religious attitudes to euthanasia, suicide and care of the elderly.
• Drug use: Religious teachings about legal and illegal drugs.
• Rich and Poor: What are the causes of relative and absolute poverty? How should religious believers react to the problems of world poverty?
• Crime and Punishment: What does society do to address crime and why? What do religious teachings have to offer?
• Media: How is religion presented in the media? How do religions use modern media? What problems does the media present?

The course is examined by one written exam, and there is no course work.

Post 16

The school does not currently offer this subject at post-16.