Religious Education
The department is split between Religious Education and Religious Studies.
Our aim is that boys should learn to question, and think, for themselves, and so be assisted in growing towards a true maturity, intellectually, morally, socially and spiritually.
Religious Education is compulsory throughout the school (with the exception of boys who take 4 A-levels in the 6th Form) and examined internally up to the third year, and Religious Studies is the name given to the optional examined courses available at GCSE and A-Level.
Religious Education initially aims to provide boys with a sound grounding in diversity of world religious beliefs as well as a more detailed understanding of the historical origins and development of the Christian faith. Subsequently, through the use of individual research, video and ICT projects, as well as traditional classroom teaching, boys are introduced to a wide range of moral and personal issues such as adolescence, drug abuse and grief. In the Middle and Upper School, non-examined Religious Education plays a central role in the School’s Personal, Social, Health and Moral Education structure. The subject matter is remarkably diverse covering theological, philosophical, ethical, spiritual, psychological, historical and social questions.
In Religious Studies at GCSE we follow AQA syllabus B offering study of Christianity and issues of morality and citizenship. At A-Level we are moving to the AQA course that will allow boys to focus on Philosophy of Religion and Ethics as well as an opportunity to undertake a rigorous academic study of the concept of religious fundamentalism.