Year 7

1. Community and Baptism – (What is RE?, Home and Family, Mission Statement, From Saints, Important Catholic Beliefs, Sacrament of Baptism, Beliefs about God)
2. The Bible – (What is the Bible and Why is it Important?, Different Types of Writing in the Bible, Geography and History of the Bible, Important Bible Characters, Bible Skills, Advent, Nativity Narratives)
3. Prayer – (What is Prayer?, How Jesus Prays – The Lord’s Prayer, Four Types of Prayer, Different Ways to Pray, A Place for Prayer, Prayer Aids, How can Prayer Help?)
4. Lent and Easter – (The Catholic Liturgical Year, The Events of Holy Week, The Passion of Jesus, The Resurrection, The Ascension, How can we Live as Easter People?)
5. Creation and Pentecost – (Creation, Stewardship, Pentecost, Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit, Inspirational People, Who Inspires Us?)
6. Hinduism – (The Major World Religions, Hindu Gods and Goddesses, Dharma Karma & Reincarnation, Puja Worship, Hindu Festivals)

Year 8

1. Judaism – (Introduction to Judaism, Exodus and Passover, Worship in the Synagogue, The Torah, Sabbath, Bar/Bat Mitzvah)
2. Covenant – (Old Testament Covenants, The Ten Commandments, Jesus as the New Covenant, The Greatest Commandment, Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes, Jesus’ Parables, Why is Jesus Important to Christians?)
3. The Church – (How did Christianity Continue after Jesus?, How did Christianity come to Britain, The Catholic Church: Vatican and Hierarchy, The Catholic Church: Pope and YouCat, How do Parishes get Young People Involved in the Church, Sacrament of Confirmation)
4. Forgiveness – (Conscience & Sin, Jesus’ Response to Sin, Stages of Forgiveness, Sacrament of Reconciliation, Should We Forgive?)
5. Eucharist – (Celebration, The Last Supper, The Real Presence, The Mass, Why is Mass Important?, A Creative Response to Mass)
6. Justice – (Inequalities, Jesus & Justice, Local/National/Global Injustice, Nugent Care & Mary’s Meals, CAFOD & SVP, How Should Christians Respond to Injustice?)

Year 9

1. Vocation – (Gifts and Talents, Vocation in the Bible, Priesthood, Religious Life, Personal Vocation)
2. Love and Marriage – Religion, Sex and Relationships – (Search for Love, Choices, Contraception & Family Planning, Relationships and Marriage, Marriage Breakdown and Divorce, Consent and Right & Responsibilities)
3. Islam – (Introduction to Islam, Muhammad, The Qur’an, Muslim Worship and The Mosque, Five Pillars, Hajj)
4. Pilgrimage – Journey, Different Places of Pilgrimage, Bernadette and the Story of Lourdes, Biblical Miracles, Modern Miracles, The Sacrament of the Sick)

After February Half-Term, pupils begin the first module of the Eduqas RE GCSE course: ‘Origins and Meaning’ (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.
• 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 topics they will be studying at GCSE.

RE GCSE Examination Board

The RE department has opted for the EDUQAS Examination Board as the one which most suits All Hallows pupils. For further details their website is www.eduqas.co.uk

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

• EDUQAS Route B Paper 1 – Foundational Catholic Theology (Year 9&10)
• EDUQAS Route B Paper 2 – Applied Catholic Theology (Year 11)
• EDUQAS Route B Paper 3 – Judaism (Year 10)

Examinations

• Pupils will sit two 1 hour 30 minute examinations for Paper 1 and Paper 2, both worth 37.5.% of their final grade.
• Pupils will also sit a 1 hour examination for Paper 3, worth 25% of their final grade.

Mock Examinations

• 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 9-11

Paper 1 – Foundational Catholic Theology – Content

Theme 1 – Origins and Meaning

• Creation – Ex-Nihilo
• Religious beliefs about the origin of the universe
• Non-religious views on origins of the universe and the Catholic/Christian response
• Beliefs and teachings about the sanctity of human life
• Religious and non-religious views on human life and Abortion
• Creation story in Genesis 1 and 2
• Beliefs about the relationship between humans and the rest of creation
• Origins of scripture and literary forms
• Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam
• Imagery in Christian Art
• Imago Dei and Catholic Social Teaching
• Inter-faith dialogue
• The work of Catholic charities

Theme 2 – Good and Evil 

• Catholic perspectives on the origin of evil – Original Sin
• Different Christian and Jewish perspectives on the nature and origin of evil
• Different beliefs on God’s goodness and the goodness of creation
• Philosophical challenges posed by God’s goodness and the existence of evil & suffering
• The meaning of suffering: Christ’s suffering and Death
• Nature of the Trinity in the Nicene Creed and Bible
• Other beliefs about the Trinity: St Augustine and Judaism
• Meaning and significance of the Incarnation
• Importance of the Incarnation in response to the problem of evil
• The example and teaching of Jesus
• The existence of natural law, conscience and virtues
• Significance of sculpture and statues to Catholic worship and tradition
• The meaning and significance of pilgrimage for Catholics
• The Rosary as a reflection of the Incarnation

Paper 2 – Applied Catholic Theology – Content

Theme 3 – Life and Death 

• Catholic teaching on the meaning of death and the importance of dying well
• Catholic teaching on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
• Contrasting views on Quality of Life vs Sanctity of Life
• Catholic belief about Life after Death
• Contrasting views about the end of personal existence
• Catholic teaching on Judgement, Heaven, Hell and Purgatory
• The nature of the magisterium
• The Second Vatican Council
• Sarcophagi and Eternal Life
• Paschal Candle and Resurrection
• Different forms of music used in worship to express Eternal Life
• The Funeral Rite
• Prayer in Catholic communities

 Theme 4 – Sin and Forgiveness 

• The difference between Crime and Sin
• Aims of punishment
• Catholic teachings on Forgiveness
• Catholic teachings on Capital Punishment
• Other Christian teachings on Capital Punishment
• Salvation and the role of Grace and Free Will
• Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection
• The nature of the Church as One, Holy and Apostolic
• Mary as the model disciple
• The Church as the Body of Christ
• Sacred objects and architecture that represent salvation
• The Sacramental Nature of Reality
• The importance of the Eucharist for Catholics
• Mission and Evangelism

 Paper 3 – Judaism – Content

Beliefs and Teachings

• God as One and Creator
• God as Lawgiver and Judge
• The Divine Presence
• The Messianic Age and the Messiah
• Covenant with Abraham
• Covenant with Moses
• Importance of the Ten Commandments
• Free Will and Mitzvot
• Sanctity of Life (Pikuach Nefesh)
• Life after Death, Judgement and Resurrection

 Practices

• Synagogue Services (Shabbat Service, Amidah Prayer)
• Worship in the Home (Shema, Mezuzah, Shabbat, Siddur)
• Items worn for Worship (Kippah, Tallit, Tefillin)
• Functions of a Synagogue
• Features of a Synagogue
• Rituals: Birth Ceremonies (Naming Ceremony, Brit Milah)
• Rituals: Bar / Bat Mitzvah
• Rituals: Marriage Ceremony
• Rituals: Mourning Rituals
• Use of Tenakh and Talmud in Daily Life
• Dietary Laws
• Festivals: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Pesach, Sukkot