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    COURAGEOUSNESS

    Continuing not in the absence of fear but to triumph over it.

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    INTEGRITY

    Doing the right thing when no-one is watching you do it.

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    Humility

    Thinking of yourself less... not thinking less of yourself

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  • Religious Education

    Welcome to the Religious Education department

    Curriculum Intentions and Aims

    To engage, inspire, challenge and encourage pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to answer challenging questions, explore different religious beliefs, values and traditions. Students will develop a more rigorous understanding of the numerous religious traditions, beliefs and practices that are followed in our multi-cultural city of “peace and reconciliation”. We want them to know how religious education promotes discernment and enables pupils to combat prejudice, preparing them for adult life, employment and life-long learning.

    We believe that the Religious Education department has a vital role to play in Finham Park School’s determination to be a leader in learning, achieving excellence in all we do. Learning about and from religion provides invaluable opportunities to reinforce the values debated and agreed by staff, students, parents and governors. These are:

    • Honesty
    • Equality of opportunity
    • A commitment to excellence
    • Trust
    • Mutual respect
    • Compassion
    • Pride
    • High Standards
    • Openness
    • Fairness
    • Work ethic
    • Achievement based on previous, personal best
    • High self-esteem/ self-confidence
    • Health and emotional well-being
    • Ambition
    • Happiness

    In light of recent global events, and educational priorities (Citizenship Education, spiritual, moral, social and cultural development) we believe that we are ideally placed to play a leading role in the continuing improvement of Finham Park School and to contribute to the life-long learning of students and staff.

    Aims and Objectives

    Aims
    1. To further develop the knowledge and skills required to understand and engage with the beliefs and practices of people from a variety of religious traditions (Christianity and other principal religions and value systems represented in Great Britain) in an authentic way
    2. To acknowledge, and where possible, make use of the various backgrounds and world-views of the students
    3. To provide opportunities to encounter and explore a variety of ultimate questions and truth claims that the students see as relevant to their own lives.
    4. To encourage dialogue and reflection through the study of religion

    Each of these aims contributes to the spiritual, moral, social and cultural education of pupils. They reflect the aims of the RE Today Agreed Syllabus (Revised 2024).

    Objectives

    We plan to meet these aims by:

    • Developing, implementing and reviewing schemes of work that,
      • meet the demands of the Coventry Agreed Syllabus and reflect current developments in religious education
      • provide a variety of learning experiences to meet the needs of all students
      • provide challenge and clear progression
      • make explicit reference to current developments in education (e.g. KS3 strategy)
      • make explicit links across the curriculum (e.g. literacy, Citizenship Education, numeracy)
    • Building links with members of a variety of traditions and their communities
    • Supporting teachers in the development of their subject knowledge
    • Promoting an ethos of mutual respect by,
      • conducting lessons in a secure, supportive and disciplined manner
      • Ensuring equal opportunities
      • setting an example
    • Long, medium and short term planning that exploits opportunities to relate content to the experiences of young people where appropriate
    • Using an introductory Year 7 scheme of work in RE that explores young people’s questions and sets the tone for religious studies at FPS
    • Provision of GCSE and A level religious studies, both of which provide many such opportunities
    • Using a variety of strategies, such as stilling and hot-seating
    • Creating an inspiring and comfortable environment
    • Developing an ethos of mutual respect
    • Developing relationships with ‘insiders’ of religious traditions through visits etc.

    Key Stage 3

    Students study the six major world religions over the three years of key stage three, as well as exploring major moral issues.

    Key Stage 4

    In Key Stage 4 all students take the Eduqas GCSE Full Course in Religious Studies.

    Key Stage 5

    The RE department offers the increasingly popular OCR A Level in Philosophy, Ethics and Hinduism, which is taught by Ms Madden, Ms Lucas and Mrs Crawford and Mr Spriggs.

    Department Staff

    Head of Department Ms L Madden
    Second in Department Ms Y Crawford
      Ms S Mahmood
      Mr S Spriggs (BA)
      Ms R Bassi
      Ms J Lucas (BA)
      Ms E Nash (LLB)