Religious Studies – St. Joseph's Catholic High School

The Religious Education Department

Key Information

‘It is important that all involved in education in our diocese recognise that we give primacy of purpose to helping everyone within the school community to grow in faith.’

(Fit for Mission, Bishop Patrick O’Donoghue)

Introduction

At St. Joseph’s Catholic High School all students study Religious Education as a core subject. Throughout their studies, students are challenged to evaluate their own faith, attitudes, behaviour, opinions and values. Students of all or no religious background are invited to learn about Christ, his teachings and his Church and share their own faith and life experiences within our Catholic faith community. All students are invited to develop their personal relationship with Christ who stands in the centre of all we do and who we are. Jesus Christ wants us to share in his perfection and that is what we want each of our students to try for. We want them to be as perfect as possible in each area of their lives. That is why RE teachers help pupils to develop academically, spiritually, socially, emotionally and morally.

RE Staff

Mr Peter Hornak, BA, MA (Senior Lead – Head of Religious Education)

BA in Catholic Theology and Philosophy, (All Hallows, Dublin, Ireland)
MA in Mathematics (Teaching and Learning), (Liverpool Hope, Liverpool, UK)

Mr Ben Jackson, BA (Teacher of Religious Education)

BA in History and History of Art, (Manchester University, Manchester, UK)
PGCE in Religious Education, (University of Cumbria, Lancaster, UK)

Mrs Camilla Mason Miller, BA, MA (Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities Coordinator and Teacher of Religious Education)

BA in English language and Linguistics, (Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK)
MA in Educational Leadership, (University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK)

Miss Nina Morton, BA (Head of Year and Teacher of Religious Education)

BA in Philosophy, Ethics and Religion, (Liverpool Hope, Liverpool, UK)
PGCE in Religious Education, (Liverpool Hope, Liverpool, UK)

Miss Linzi Donaldson, BA (Teacher of Physical Education and Teacher of Religious Education)

BA in Physical Education, (University of Cumbria, Carlisle, UK)

Mr Ian Newitt, BA, MA (The Headteacher and Teacher of Religious Education)

BA in Theology with Philosophy, (University of Sunderland, Sunderland, UK)
Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies (Liverpool Archdiocese, Liverpool, UK)

RE Curriculum

The RE Curriculum at St. Joseph’s implements the requirements of the RED (Religious Education Directory). Students at St. Joseph’s follow the Edexcel RE GCSE course which is one of three endorsed by the Bishops’ Conference. A very small number of students follow the Edexcel Entry Level Certificate in Religious Studies.

Year 7

The Year 7 Curriculum is fully based on and follows the prescribed sequencing of the Y7 Source to Summit resource which is fully endorsed by the Catholic Educational Service.

Y7 Unit 1

How do we know about God?
How should we read the Bible?
What does Genesis teach about creation?
What does Genesis 2 teach about creation?
What are the scientific theories about creation?
What do Catholics believe about scientific theories?
What makes humans different to the rest of creation?
What is our responsibility to others?
What is our responsibility to the world?
What is the role of prayer?
What can we do to protect creation?
What can we learn from Sister Dorothy Stang?

Y7 Unit 2

How do you navigate the Bible?
Why is the Bible read in translation?
How is the Bible a library of books?
What connects the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament?
Why is the Old Testament important?
What does it mean that Scripture is inspired?
What is sacred scripture and sacred tradition?
How are scripture, tradition and the magisterium connected?
How do Catholics use scripture in the Mass?
How is scripture used in the Rosary?
How does the Book of Kells reflect the meaning of scripture?
What are biblical idioms?

Y7 Unit 3

What is the Incarnation?
Who is Jesus, the Son of God?
What did Arius teach about Jesus?
Who is Jesus, the Son of Man?
Who is Jesus, the Christ and Son of David?
Who is Jesus, the Lord?
What is the Trinity?
How does Catholic worship reflect belief in the Trinity?
How is Jesus the perfect human being?
Can businesses act selflessly?
What can Catholics learn from Rublev’s Trinity?

Y7 Unit 4

What is the Paschal Mystery?
What are the sacraments of the Church?
Why was the Last Supper so important?
What is the Eucharist?
Why are there many names for the Eucharist?
How is Jesus present in the Eucharist?
Why is the Mass called a sacrifice?
Why is the structure of the Mass important?
How do Catholics carry Jesus into the world?
What do different Christians believe about the Eucharist?
How can we respond to world hunger?
The processions of the Blessed Sacrament.

Y7 Unit 5 and 6

Who was St Luke?
Who is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit in Jesus’ life.
What is the story of Pentecost?
Why is Pentecost important?
The teachings about the Holy Spirit.
What is the Church?
What is the Sacrament of Confirmation?
Why is Confirmation important?
How should we live?
How is Pentecost celebrated?
The Councils of the Church.
The Council of Jerusalem.
Christian denominations.
What is ecumenism?
Study of world religions.

Year 8

The Year 8 Curriculum is fully based on and follows the prescribed sequencing of the Y8 Source to Summit resource which is fully endorsed by the Catholic Educational Service.

Y8 Unit 1

What is the story of the Fall?
What is the meaning of the Fall?
What is sin?
Why are God’s commandments so important?
Why have rules in the first place?
What is conscience?
What is the Sacrament of Baptism?
Who should be baptised?
What does love of neighbour mean today?
How do artists depict Moses?

Y8 Unit 2

What is a prophetic text?
How does Jeremiah fulfil the prophetic pattern?
Why do prophecies contain calls to repentance?
How do prophecies call for care of the poor?
Why do prophecies criticise external religion?
Why do prophecies make warnings and promises?
How are images and parables used in prophecies?
Why do prophecies talk about a faithful few?
How do prophecies show God as a judge of all nations?
Why is John the Baptist important?
How are lay people called to be witnesses of Christ?
How is Advent connected to prophecy?
What does the Church teach about superstition?
How do Christmas carols reflect prophetic messages?

Y8 Unit 3

How should we read scripture? What is the Kingdom of God?
Who did Jesus encounter in his ministry?
How did Jesus treat marginalised people?
How did Jesus reach out to gentiles and women?
What are parables? And what is eschatology?
What are the miracles of Jesus?
What did Jesus’ miracles over sickness reveal?
How does Jesus’ ministry call us to enter the Kingdom?
What is the Anointing of the Sick?
Why are Catholics called to help in the refugee crisis?
The refugee crisis and Father Damien of Molokai.

Y8 Unit 4

Why do we suffer?
Is there a meaning to suffering?
Why is Jesus called the Suffering Servant?
Why did God allow Jesus to suffer?
How do Christians prepare during Lent?
What is the Easter Triduum?
What is the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
Why is the Sacrament of Reconciliation important?
Why does God allow suffering?
How is the crucifixion shown through art?

Y8 Unit 5 and 6

The Bible and the resurrection.
The significance of the empty tomb.
The disciples and the resurrection.
The central truth of Christian faith.
Do humans have a soul?
What happens at the end of human life?
Why is Baptism necessary?
What are Catholic funeral rites?
The Catholic belief in purgatory.
Art and the Resurrection.
The Second Vatican Council.
Why is Ecclesiam Suam important?
Different Catholic Churches.
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
Study of world religions.

Year 9 – Under review, awaiting publication of the RED resources

Students in Year 9 study two Philosophy units which allow them to develop philosophical vocabulary needed for the future theological units. Philosophical thinking is well used in the delivery of non-GCSE topics which are required to be taught by RED, such as value of life, abortion and euthanasia. Philosophy units are followed by a study of Judaism which will lay down historical and doctrinal foundations for Catholic Theology.

Y9 Autumn Term Topics

Arguments for the existence of God (Revelation, Visions, Miracles, Religious Experiences, The Design and Cosmological arguments, The Existence of Suffering and Solutions to the Problem of Suffering), Value of life, Abortion and Euthanasia

Y9 Spring Term Topics

Religious Teachings on Relationships and Families in the 21st Century (Marriage, Sexual relationships, The Family, Support for the Family, Family Planning, Divorce, Annulment, Equality of Men and Women, Gender Prejudice and Discrimination)

Y9 Summer Term Topics

Judaism (The Almighty, The Shekhinah, The Messiah, The Covenant at Sinai, The Covenant with Abraham, The Sanctity of Life, Moral Principles and Mitzvot and Life after Death)

Year 10

Students in Year 10 study their second Judaism unit which will complete their preparation for theological studies. After the Philosophy and Judaism foundations, students study Catholic theology units.

Y10 Autumn Term Topics (and the first part of the Spring Term)

Judaism (Public Acts of Worship, The Tenakh and Talmud, Private and Public Prayer, The Shema and the Amidah, Ritual and Ceremony, Shabbat, Festivals and Synagogue)
Catholic Christianity (The Trinity, The Trinity and the Bible, Creation, Creation and the Nature of Humanity, The Incarnation, The Paschal Mystery, Eschatology)

Y10 Spring Term Topics (Starting at the second half of this term)

Catholic Christianity (The Sacramental Nature of Reality, Liturgical Worship, The Funeral Rite, Prayer, Popular Piety, Pilgrimage, Catholic Social Teaching, Evangelism)

Y10 Summer Term Topics

Catholic Christianity (The Bible, Interpretation of the Bible, The Magisterium, The Second Vatican Council, The Church as the Body of Christ, The Four Marks of the Church, Mary, Ethical Decisions)

Year 11

Y11 students complete their theological studies and then revise all topics again for their GCSE exams.

Y11 Autumn Term Topics

Catholic Christianity (Architecture, Sacred Objects, Artwork, Sculptures and Statues, Symbolism, Drama and Music)
Catholic Christianity Mock

Y11 Spring Term Topics

Final Revision

Y11 Summer Term Topics

Final Revision
May/June GCSE Exams

Entry Level Certificate, Edexcel

In consultation with the Headteacher, Local Governing Body and the Diocese of Lancaster, we enter a number of students for the Entry Level qualification. Our aim is to enter every student for GCSE unless this is a more appropriate course.

Skills

There is a mutual relationship between knowledge and skills that students develop during their Religious Education studies. These skills may include:

Investigation Skills, e.g., listen carefully, know where to look for evidence, observe accurately;
Interpretation Skills, e.g., categorise and classify, interpret symbols, signs, develop hypothesis;
Communication Skills, e.g., know religious language, exercise imagination through role play;
Critical Skills, e.g., question your own point of view, form reasoned opinions, weight evidence;
Affective Skills, e.g., relate well with others, work in a group, exercise empathy;
Evaluation Skills, e.g., make reasoned value judgements, distinguish between rules and principles and make responsible choices.

Future careers and vocation

All humanity shares in the same vocation which can be described as becoming a Saint or being called to possess the fullness of life in and with God. He calls every human being into a relationship of love and happiness. However, becoming a Saint can be achieved in many ways.

There is a special call to become a priest, a monk, a nun, a religious brother or sister. These are calls into the priesthood or religious life. If this is the case, talk about it with your RE teacher, chaplain or your parish priest to discern this call further.

Careers which may require specific RE knowledge include:

Archivist
Biblical Archaeologist
Journalist, religious press
Librarian, religious section
Manager / Leader of a retreat centre
Curator/Museum worker
Radio/TV presenter of religious programmes
University lecturer and RE teacher and so on…

Careers with people:

Advice worker
Careers adviser
Care assistant
Counsellor
Politician
Police officer
Social Worker and so on…

Careers in business:

Advertising account executive
Charity fundraiser
Civil service administrator
Public relations officer
Funeral Services
Solicitor and so on…

Contact

Tel: 01900 873290