Religious Education
Liturgy is an integral part of life at St James'
1 – Department Information
The RE department consists of four full time specialist teachers: Miss R Connolly (Head of Department), Mrs K Smith (2nd in Department), Mrs C Friend and Mr J Keane. In addition to this we have an LSA (Mrs A Peters) who is attached to the department full time. Her role is to support pupils in RE lessons, assist the Head of Department with administrative tasks and support the whole department with producing resources.
We have two main aims as a department: the first being to support and guide pupils on their spiritual and faith journey and the second to develop in them an understanding and appreciation of Religious Education as an academic subject focusing particularly on Christianity whilst referring to and developing a respect for the faith and beliefs of others.We have four RE classrooms (each with an interactive whiteboard), an office and a Chapel. The department is situated at the heart of the school which reflects it position as a core subject at the heart of St James’. We also enjoy the advantages and privileges of having specialist subject status along with English and Citizenship.
During Key Stage 3, pupils have six lessons of RE a fortnight and are set homework once a week. They are assessed once a term. At Key Stage 4, they are set between one and two homeworks a week. They are assessed at the end of every module and take 50% of their GCSE in Year 10 and 50% in Year 11.
2- Extra-curricular
Liturgy is an integral part of life at St James’. Morning Prayer is celebrated every week in the Chapel and is well attended by pupils and staff. This is led on a rota basis. During Lent and Advent, each class has their own service in the Chapel which is led by their RE teacher. Masses at school involve pupils from all year groups and contain drama, dance, music, poetry and power point.
We also work hard to raise money for charity. Last year (2007-2008) pupils raised over two thousand pounds for CAFOD.
3 – Curriculum
At Key Stage 3, we follow the Shrewsbury diocesan scheme of work. Topics are as follows:
Year 7
Welcome
Called by Name
God’s Promise Fulfilled
Our Faith Story
Who Do You Say That I Am?
Lent
Pentecost
I am God’s Work of Art
Judaism
Year 8
We Are a Pilgrim People
Choices On The Journey
Journeying By a Different Route
Welcoming The Stranger
Passover
Food For The Journey
We are an Easter People
Sharing Stories On The Journey
Respect for the Earth
Hinduism
Year 9
Questions in the Search for God
Lord, What Do You Want Me To Do?
A Call to Peace
Candles in the Dark and People of God in History
I will Be With You Always
Who is my Neighbour?
Islam
Introduction to GCSE – Marriage and Family Life
At Key Stage 4 we follow the Edexcel syllabus units C and J. Topics are as follows:
Year 10
Marriage and Family Life
Belief in God
Matters of Life and Death
Social Harmony
Religion and the Media
Year 11
Worship and Celebration
Living the Christian Life
Beliefs and Values
Community and Tradition
A Place of Christian Worship
GCSE is 100% exam. There is no coursework. Pupils sit one 2 hour paper in Year 10 and another in Year 11. Each is worth 50% of their final grade.