DEPARTMENT LEADER: Mrs K. John
Religion, ethics and philosophy at MCS provides each pupil with opportunities to:
- Engage with fundamental questions – so appreciating the human and religious questions that are raised by life and its experiences, and through which meaning, significance and value are gained.
- Explore religious beliefs, teachings and practices – so acquiring knowledge and understanding of religious stories, sacred texts, lifestyles, rituals and symbolism that offer insight into the fundamental questions of life.
- Express personal responses – so gaining the skills to be able to relate the things studied and discussed to their own experience, and to develop their own personal thinking, evaluating and responses to beliefs, teachings and practices, and fundamental questions.
Key Stage 3
At Key Stage 3, learners think for themselves to develop an understanding of life and the world around us. Learners think creatively and ask deeper and more challenging questions. Knowledge of religion and the impact that religion and religious ideas have locally, nationally and globally fosters greater understanding of the significance of religion and its importance in promoting social cohesion, stability, global citizenship and sustainability.
Year 7 – Introduction to religion
Year 8 – Signs and symbols. Introduction to religion, Hinduism, religious rules. Forgiveness, pilgrimage, sacred text.
Year 9 – Martin Luther King, Gandhi, Crime and punishment.
Key Stage 4
NCFE Equality & Diversity
The Equality and Diversity course is an interesting course that aims to introduce the issues around stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination, to identify the basic rights that all people should enjoy and the shared values people have. The course examines the responsibility that each person and organization have in ensuring that barriers to participation in society are removed. Learners study the various laws which affect equality and diversity, and how workplaces have to take account of them.
Learners study three units:
Unit 1: Equality & diversity in society
Unit 2: Equality & diversity in the community
Unit 3: Equality & Diversity in the workplace
GCSE RELIGIOUS STUDIES
This course consists of a study of two religious’ traditions from an ethical and philosophical viewpoint.
The modules engage pupils in examining moral issues from their own and a religious perspective. Topics such as abortion, war, poverty, human rights, marriage and euthanasia will be discussed, and the religious view put forward. This is a popular option for pupils as they approach adulthood, and it gives them the opportunity to weigh up the moral stand taken on several issues. This course is particularly recommended by the Cardiff School of Medicine to pupils considering a career in medicine since it covers issues faced by medical professionals today.
GCSE Religious Studies
Pupils study two units:
Unit 1 – Religion and Philosophical Themes.
Unit 2 – Religion and Ethical Themes.
Pupils will sit the Unit 1 exam at the end of Year 10 and the Unit 2 exam at the end of Year 11. Both grades put together make up their overall grade. There is no coursework.
Extra-Curricular
We are regularly visited by the GSUS Live team. GSUS live is a mobile education unit which is a multi-media classroom in a lorry trailer. It tells the story of three teenagers facing real-life issues in their lives, and how they get inspiration from the Bible to deal with their problems. Using touch-screen computers, students interact with fictional characters through animations, instant chat, short educational films and music videos. They explore the themes of fear, forgiveness and rejection.
The department also runs drop in sessions at lunchtimes and after school to support learners with their studies.
Meet the team
Mrs John
Ms Butt