Religious Studies

What is Religious Studies?

At a surface level, Religious Studies is a study of a variety of religious beliefs and ideas. However, there is much more to be gained from studying Religious Studies than an understanding of the various world religions and their perspectives. Students will explore and engage with challenging questions that underpin the human experience. Religious Studies offers students an opportunity to understand the foundation of our culture and identity, as well as deepening their understanding of religious perspectives and cultures found in different parts of the world.

Why do we teach Religious Studies at HAWI?

Religious Studies exposes students to an immense amount of cultural capital. Students will be introduced to thinkers and ideas that have helped to shape the world around us into what it is today. At HAWI, the aim of the Religious Studies curriculum is to cultivate students that are well-rounded, open-minded and culturally considerate young people. Students will sharpen their critical thinking, analysis and evaluative skills through engaging with different ideas and perspectives.

Literacy is also a central focus in Religious Studies, as students will engage with extracts from a variety of religions and time-periods. Students will be taught to articulate their understanding of the ideas they encounter and clearly explain their personal response to what they have learned. The crafting of one’s opinion takes time and experience, the Religious Studies curriculum at HAWI aims for students to have started building their opinion on various challenging and fundamental questions that are central to adult life and the human experience.

How do we teach Religious Studies at HAWI?

At HAWI, Religious Studies is approached as a highly academic subject. It must be recognised that in modern British society, not everyone would consider themselves religious. To ensure Religious Studies remains highly relevant and useful to students of all belief-systems, the focus on literacy and defending one’s opinion in writing is central to our approach to Religious Studies.

Additionally, we adopt a multi-disciplinary approach at HAWI when teaching Religious Studies. This is based on the simple concept that religious ideas and thinking seep in many different areas of human life. The three broad approaches to religion that students will engage with are: Sociological, Philosophical and Theological. Throughout the KS3 curriculum, students will engage with how religious affects and impacts society and individuals (Sociological approach), the ideas that underpin different religions (Philosophical approach) and the central beliefs and practices of the six main world religions (Theological approach). Through this multi-disciplinary approach, students will

Teaching Religious Education is a statutory requirement of the National Curriculum for all students, except for those whose parents or carers choose to exercise their right of withdrawal. Further information can be found here. If you would like to discuss any aspect of the curriculum in more detail, please contact your child's Tutor in the first instance.