At Key Stage 3, Religious Education builds on the foundations established at Catholic primary school and develops pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith through a carefully sequenced, spiral curriculum. Our curriculum follows the Religious Education Directory: To Know You More Clearly, the framework for Religious Education in Catholic schools in England and Wales.
Across Years 7 - 9, pupils revisit and deepen their understanding through the six branches of the curriculum:

• Creation and Covenant - exploring God as Creator, humanity’s relationship with God, Scripture and the covenant relationship.
• Prophecy and Promise - exploring God's promises, the prophets and the fulfilment of God's plan of salvation.
• Galilee to Jerusalem - encountering the person of Jesus Christ, his ministry, teaching, Passion, Death and Resurrection.
• Desert to Garden - exploring sin, suffering, forgiveness, redemption, new life and the hope offered through Christ.
• To the Ends of the Earth - exploring the Holy Spirit, the Church, the Sacraments and the mission of Christians to share the Gospel.
• Dialogue and Encounter - developing an understanding of other Christian traditions, religions and worldviews, and learning to engage with difference through respectful dialogue.

By the end of Key Stage 3, pupils will have developed a strong foundation in Catholic theology and religious literacy, alongside an informed understanding of other faiths and worldviews. They will be increasingly able to connect belief with lived experience, recognising how faith influences the way people understand themselves, others and the world.

The curriculum prepares pupils for the next stage of their Religious Education, including GCSE, while also contributing to their spiritual, moral and personal development.

The six branches of the RED are revisited every year. This allows pupils to build securely on prior knowledge, revisit important concepts and encounter them with increasing religious depth.

Year 7 - Know the Foundations
Pupils establish the core knowledge and vocabulary needed to understand Catholic Christianity.

Year 8 - Make Connections
Pupils deepen their understanding by connecting Scripture, Catholic teaching, belief and lived experience.

Year 9 - Think and Respond
Pupils engage with increasingly complex theological, ethical and contemporary questions, preparing them for the demands of GCSE Religious Studies

At Key Stage 4, as a Catholic School, Religious Education is a core subject and builds on the knowledge and skills developed at Key Stage 3 through the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Specification A. This is an agreed syllabus for Catholic Religious Education in England and Wales.

In Year 10, pupils begin with Judaism, as the second study of religion prescribed within the Catholic curriculum. This develops religious literacy and encourages pupils to understand, compare and respectfully engage with another faith tradition. Pupils then deepen their study of Catholic Christianity, building on the knowledge gained throughout Key Stage 3 and exploring Catholic beliefs, teachings and practices in greater depth.

In Year 11, pupils complete their GCSE study through Philosophy and Ethics, exploring questions about God, morality, relationships and contemporary ethical issues. This enables pupils to apply their religious knowledge, construct reasoned arguments and evaluate different perspectives.

By the end of Key Stage 4, pupils will have developed a secure understanding of Catholic Christianity and Judaism, alongside the ability to analyse, evaluate and respond to philosophical and ethical questions. The course provides a strong foundation for further study at Key Stage 5, particularly for pupils continuing with A Level Religious Studies, while equipping all pupils to engage thoughtfully with questions of faith, morality and human experience.

At Key Stage 5, Religious Studies builds on the knowledge and skills developed at GCSE and provides students with the opportunity to study religion, philosophy and ethics at a deeper academic level. We follow the AQA A Level Religious Studies Specification A (7062), with a focus on Christianity, Philosophy of Religion and Ethics.

Students explore some of the most challenging questions about God, faith, morality and human existence. They engage with the ideas of philosophers, theologians and scholars, developing their ability to analyse arguments, evaluate different perspectives and construct clear, well-supported responses.

The course encourages students to think independently, question assumptions and engage respectfully with ideas that may challenge their own views. By the end of the course, students will have developed strong skills in critical thinking, evaluation, academic writing, discussion and reasoned argument.

A Level Religious Studies provides a strong foundation for further study and a wide range of future pathways, including Theology, Religious Studies, Philosophy, Law, Politics, History, Sociology, Education, Journalism and other humanities and social science subjects. The skills developed through the course are also valuable in careers involving communication, analysis, people and ethical decision-making.

Ultimately, we want students to leave Religious Studies as curious, reflective and intellectually confident young adults, equipped to engage thoughtfully with complex questions and the diverse world in which they live.
 

Year 12
Throughout Year 12, students study Philosophy of Religion, Ethics and Christianity alongside one another.

Philosophy of Religion develops students' understanding of arguments for the existence of God, evil and suffering, and religious experience.

Ethics introduces students to ethical theories and explores questions surrounding ethical language, free will, conscience and moral decision-making.
Alongside Philosophy and Ethics, students complete the majority of the Christianity component, exploring sources of wisdom and authority, religious beliefs and values, the self, life after death, Christian moral principles and Christian identity.

Year 13
Students continue to develop their understanding of Christianity, completing the remaining areas of Christianity, Equality and Gender and Christianity and Secularism.

Students then study Dialogues, bringing together the different strands of the course by exploring the relationship between religion, philosophy and ethics. This encourages students to make connections across the course and critically evaluate different perspectives.

The year concludes with revision and preparation for the A Level examinations, consolidating knowledge and developing students' ability to construct sustained, analytical and evaluative arguments.

Assessment
Assessment is embedded throughout the A Level course and is designed to develop students' confidence in both knowledge and evaluation. Students complete weekly homework across Philosophy, Ethics and Christianity, including a balance of AO1 knowledge and understanding and AO2 analysis and evaluation questions. Students complete a baseline assessment at the beginning of Year 12, followed by regular PPEs (Pre-Public Examinations) to monitor progress and identify areas for development.

The course has two three-hour examinations in the summer of Year 13, assessing students across the full A Level specification. Regular exam question practice and teacher feedback throughout the course ensure that students are well prepared.
 

As a Catholic Sixth Form, Core Religious Education is a compulsory part of the experience of every student, regardless of faith or religious background. Our two-year Core RE and Salesian Spirit Programme is rooted in the Gospel, Catholic Social Teaching and the charism of St John Bosco and is designed to support students as they develop their identity, values, character and sense of purpose.

Our Salesian identity is central to the programme. Through the example of Salesian Saints students explore what it means to live with faith and a commitment to others. The Salesian approach encourages students to recognise their own gifts and responsibilities and to consider how they can use them for the good of others.

As a diverse Sixth Form community, we place particular emphasis on respectful dialogue and shared reflection. Students are encouraged to understand Catholic teaching while considering different religious and non-religious perspectives. The programme does not require students to personally agree with Catholic teaching; assessment focuses on their understanding and ability to engage thoughtfully with the ideas explored.