Vision for Religious Education
Religious Education (RE) enables students to investigate, question and reflect on the big questions of life. Here at the Queen Elizabeth’s Academy, students are given opportunities to consider the big story of human existence and to reflect on how they contribute to the local and worldwide community as caring, respectful and spiritual beings.
Varied opportunities are provided for individuals to develop a sense of wellbeing to fulfil their potential to live ‘life in all its fullness’. The Christian ethos of the academy family offers a stimulating, caring and loving environment where all are valued to live the principle ‘Learning and loving together forever – Semper Eadem.’.
RE enriches and provides learning experiences to explore the academy’s nine core values (empathy, nurture, joy matters to us, good manners, justice and equality, togetherness, forgiveness and reconciliation truthfulness, knowledge and wisdom), and to embed their meaning in a modern context.
Learning overview
Students experience a wealth and depth of knowledge whilst exploring Christianity as a living faith. Students are immersed in the knowledge of the major world faiths focusing particularly on Judaism, Islam and Hinduism. The choice of focus is a decision based on the fundamental messages of the Abrahamic faiths and also the faiths of students within our academy family, to ensure RE is respectful and inclusive to all.
Students have opportunities to reflect on the impact a living faith has on the individual and the community. Woven into our studies, students are also encouraged to reflect and develop a sense of their own spiritual understanding. It embraces the nurturing of individuals to understand their purpose and place in the world. RE enhances the Church of England values and concepts of wisdom, hope, community and dignity.
Students learn about religion to enhance their appreciation of learning from religion.
Aims
QEA is a Church of England Academy, therefore the aims of Religious Education are:
• To enable students to encounter Christianity as the religion that shaped British culture and heritage and influences the lives of millions of people today
• To develop knowledge and understanding of Christianity as a living faith in the local, national and world wide community
• To enable students to learn about the other major religions (Judaism, Islam and Hinduism as a core focus) and their impact on their culture in the world community
• To contribute to the development of students own spiritual, religious or philosophical convictions,
• To allow students to explore and enrich their own faith and beliefs.
• To develop an understanding of what it means to be committed to a religious tradition to express their beliefs in private and as a community
• To explain the common and unique beliefs of major religions and how they provide purpose hope and humility for believers
• To have respect for other people’s views and to celebrate diversity in society
• To ensure biblical literacy enhances their understanding of the divine
• To consider the views of other cultural belief systems including atheists and humanists
Contribution RE makes to other curriculum aims
- Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development
- The academy’s Christian values
- Respect for All
- The promotion of ‘British Values’
What students learn
Future pathways and careers
- Teaching
- Armed Forces
- Public services
- Priesthood
- Community officers
- Rehabilitation
- Prison service
- Social worker
- National Health Service
Assessment
Examinations
Examination board
Edexcel
For more information on religious education, contact Mrs Smart via email: ssmart@queenelizabeths-ac.org.uk
