All pupils follow a structured curriculum at Key Stage 3 based on the Archdiocesan Framework ‘People of God – Called to Serve’. They are taught in three periods per week during Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9. Each year pupils will study one world religion. Pupils have the opportunity to work individually, in pairs and in groups during the following topics which are studied in six half term blocks:

Year 7

Community and Baptism (Home and Family, Basic Catholic Beliefs, Baptism, Mission Statement and Form Saints)
The Bible (Bible Skills, Jesus’ Parables, Jesus’ Miracles and Advent)
Prayer (Types of Prayer, The Lord’s Prayer,  Places of Prayer)
Lent and Easter (Lent: A Time of Preparation, The Events of Holy Week, The Passion of Jesus, The Resurrection and The Ascension)
Creation and Pentecost (The Creation Story, Stewardship, Pentecost, Gifts of the Holy Spirit and Confirmation)
Hinduism (Beliefs and Practices)

Year 8

Judaism (Beliefs and Practices)
Jesus The New Covenant (Old Testament Covenants, The Ten Commandments, The Life of Jesus and The Greatest Commandment)
Forgiveness (Conscience and sin, Jesus’ Response to Sin, Four Stages of Forgiveness, Sacrament of Reconciliation and ‘Should we Always Forgive?’ )
Eucharist (Celebration, The Last Supper, The Mass,  A Creative Response to Mass and ‘Is the Mass Important?’)
Justice (Inequalities, Jesus and Justice, Local/National/Global Justice, CAFOD and ‘How Can Christians Respond?’)
The Modern Church (The Catholic Church?, Vatican II, Pope Francis, YouCat, World Youth Day and Young People & the Church)

Year 9

Vocation (Gifts and Talents, Vocation in the Bible, Priesthood, Religious Life and Personal Vocation)
Marriage and Family Life (Different Types of Love, The Catholic Marriage Ceremony and Family Life & Parenthood)
Pilgrimage (Places of Christian Pilgrimage, Bernadette and the Story of Lourdes, Lourdes as a Pilgrimage Site and Anointing of the Sick)
Islam (Beliefs and Practices)
In the summer term pupils begin the first unit of their AQA Paper 1 course Creation (See KS4)

Key Stage 3 Curriculum Enrichment

In Year 7 pupils have the opportunity to visit the Catholic and Anglican Cathedrals in Liverpool as part of the ‘Prayer’ topic. There is also a guest speaker for the ‘Hinduism’ topic.

In Year 8 pupils have the opportunity to visit the Manchester Jewish Museum, which includes a preserved Synagogue as part of the ‘Judaism’ topic.

In Year 9 pupils have the opportunity to visit Cardinal Newman College and learn in more depth about the topic they will be studying at GCSE. There is also a guest speaker for the ‘Islam’ topic.

Pupil’s study a full GCSE in RE which consists of:

• AQA Specification B Paper 1 – Roman Catholic Christianity (Year 10)
• AQA Specification B Paper 2 – Perspectives on Faith (Year 11)
• Pupils will sit two 1hour 45 minute examinations for each Unit at the end of Year 11. Both are worth 50% of their final GCSE grade in RE.
• Pupils in Year 10 will sit a ‘mock’ examination in the summer term of Year 10.
• Pupils in Year 11 will sit a ‘mock’ examination in November of Year 11.

There are no tiered papers in RE and every pupil has full access to the whole range of number grades 9-1.

Paper 1 – Catholic Christianity (50%) – Content

1.Creation

Beliefs and Teachings
Genesis 1&2, Characteristics of God, Christian Interpretations of the Creation account, Made in the Image of God
(Sanctity of Life, Free Will, Stewardship, Human Dignity)

Forms of Expression
Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam, Stained Glass Window – Adam and Eve

Sources of Authority
Scripture: Origin of the Bible , Tradition: Natural Law and Sanctity of Life, Magisterium: Vatican II and Science

Practices
Stewardship: An Expression of ‘Love you Neighbour’, Stewardship: On a Local, National and Global Scale
CAFOD: Projects of Sustainability, CAFOD: How it Expresses Catholic Faith

2.Incarnation

Beliefs and Teachings
Jesus as Incarnate Son, Son of Man and Son of God

Forms of Expression
Symbols – Icthus, Alpha and Omega, Chi Rho, Incarnation and Art, Sculptures and Statues

Sources of Authority
Scripture: Beatitudes , Tradition: Irenaeus-Adversus Haereses, Magisterium: Dei Verbum & Verbum Domini

Practices

Grace and Sacramental Nature of Reality, Sacraments, Sanctity of Life, Imago Dei and Protection of the Unborn.

3. Triune God, Mission and Prayer

Beliefs and Teachings
Trinity in the Nicene Creed, How Belief in the Trinity Influences Genesis 1:1-3
Trinity in Catholic Life today

Forms of Expression
Different Styles of Music , Mass Settings, Eucharistic Acclamations

Sources of Authority
Scripture: Trinity in Mark and Galations, Tradition: St Augustine and Catherine LaCugna, Magisterium: Catholic Doctrine of the Trinity

Practices
Baptism, Types of Prayer, Prayer and Posture

4. Redemption

Beliefs and Teachings
Death of Jesus, Resurrection and Ascension, Salvation and Grace, Influence on Liturgy

Forms of Expression
Architecture and Design of Churches, Church Furnishings, Contrasting Artefacts

Sources of Authority
Scripture: Redemption in Mark, John and Acts, Tradition: Salvation in Irenaeus and Anselm, Magisterium: Conscience and Gaudium et Spes

Practices
The Mass, Words of Institution, Agnus Dei, Real Presence

5. Church and Kingdom of God

Beliefs and Teachings
Kingdom of God in the Our Father, Catholic Teaching on Justice, Peace and Reconciliation, The Hierarchy of the Church

Forms of Expression
Dramatised Prayer – Stations of the Cross, Pilgrimage , Mission and Evangelism in Drama

Sources of Authority
Scripture: Mary as Model Disciple, Magnificat , Tradition: Four Marks of the Church – Apostolic Succession, Magisterium: Conciliar and Pontifical & Catholic Social Teaching

Practices
Love of Neighbour, Two Catholic Agencies, Vocation, Life of an Important Figure

6. Eschatology, Life, Death and Eternity

Beliefs and Teachings

Life After Death, Christian Beliefs about Life After Death

The Four Last Things – Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell

Memorials

Forms of Expression

Paschal Candle, Michelangelo’s ‘The Last Judgement’ , Memorials

Sources of Authority

Scripture: The Rich Man and Lazarus, Tradition:  Cosmic Reconciliation of All Things

Magisterium: Vatican II – Lumen Gentium & Catechism

Practices

The Last Rites, Funerals, Care of the Dying, Euthanasia

Paper 2 – Perspectives on Faith (50%) – Content

Belief

1.Judaism

Key Beliefs
The Nature of God, The Divine Presence, Life After Death, Sanctity of Human Life, Messiah

Covenant & Mitzvot
Covenant with Abraham, Moses and the Ten Commandments, Key Moral Principles, Free Will and 613 Mitzvot

Synagogue and Worship
Design of Synagogues, Services in Orthodox and Reformed Synagogues, Prayer, Shabbat in the Home, Worship in the Home, Written and Oral Law

Family Life and Friends
Rituals: Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Marriage, Dietary Laws, Festivals

Themes (2 out of 3 themes are studied)

1.Religion, Relationships and Families

• Relationships and the human condition
• Perspectives on Relationship, Families and Responsibilities
• Gender and Equality and Discrimination.

2.Religion Peace and Conflict

• Perspectives on human violence, justice, forgiveness and reconciliation
• Societal War and Just War
• Holy War and Pacifism
• Terrorism and Conflict Resolution

3. Human Rights and Social Justice

• Human Rights and Religious Freedom
• Perspectives on Wealth
• Perspectives on Poverty
• Prejudice and Discrimination