The Religious Education curriculum is designed to ensure that our young people are equipped for a life in the modern world where religious belief, social interaction and world views play such an important role. RE gets to the heart of faith and the way it is expressed has a direct impact on public life. Through RE we aim to teach our young people how to forge positive relationships built on mutual respect. We are responsible for ensuring they are equipped to function effectively within society and make a positive impression on the world.

A parent or carer of a student can request that their child is wholly or partly excused from receiving RE in the school in accordance with the school’s basic curriculum

Parents who wish to withdraw their child from all or part of the school’s RE curriculum do not have to provide a reason. The school must comply with their request, although a school should ensure parents or carers are informed of this right and are aware of the educational objectives and content of the RE syllabus.

If a student is withdrawn from RE, schools have a duty to supervise them, though not to provide additional teaching or to incur extra cost. Students removed from RE lessons will remain on school premises. Parents are not permitted to supervise their child during these lessons.

The rules that apply to withdrawing students from RE lessons do not apply to other lessons that look at religion. Therefore, a student cannot be withdrawn from any National Curriculum subject, even if they teach about religion, other than RE. Parents can also excuse their child from some aspects of sex and relationship education (RSE) within the PSHE curriculum, however, this is up until three terms before your child turns 16. After this point your child can choose if they would like to take part in RSE.

If you think you would like to discuss withdrawing your child from RE lessons or an element of sex and relationship education (RSE), please contact the school at enquiries@alsophigh.org.uk  for the attention of the Head Teacher

The principal aim of the RE curriculum is to explore the big questions about life through a variety of worldviews and disciplinary lenses.  These questions will explore what people believe, and the difference having a belief system makes to how they live.   These questions will also delve into philosophical understanding and encourage students to think about the consequences of their everyday actions.  These questions and the discussions that develop from them will enable students to make sense of religion, a plethora of worldviews and the society in which they live.  The curriculum will provide vital opportunities for students to reflect on their own ideas and ways of living as well as to consider the belief systems and ideas of wider society. 

Our curriculum has been carefully sequenced to ensure that students are introduced to all 6 major world religions, Humanism and a variety of ethical issues.  Our KS3 lays foundations for students to be successful at both GCSE and Core RE in KS4.  The curriculum regularly revisits key concepts and beliefs throughout KS3 and KS4 to ensure that students know and understand how different religions link and how ethical ideas can be interpreted. Like no other subject area RE gets to the heart of what it means to be human, and students will experience a range of viewpoints.  Our curriculum is sequenced so that students learn about diversity, equality and inclusion and how to recognise stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination and extremism and the harms they cause.  The RE curriculum is built on a foundation of respect for all students’ beliefs and for those who express no religious belief.  The curriculum allows and encourages a safe space for debate on the deep spiritual and religious issues that society is facing today. 

Students begin their lessons with a knowledge recall activity to assess and reactivate prior knowledge.  Challenging vocabulary is taught through the use of the Frayer Model and students are encouraged to use key terminology regularly in their written work and class discussions.  Students are encouraged to fully participate in class discussions using cold-calling and structured talk between peers.  Students regularly complete ‘Big Write’ pieces of work that are designed to encourage and improve the written skills of describe, explain and evaluate.  Students are given opportunities to reflect on their own religious beliefs and also to respond appropriately to the views and opinions of others.  

Students are assessed through half termly whole-class, teacher feedback in their books.  During lessons students will be assessed using targeted questioning and regular which will enable teachers to identify gaps in knowledge and to reteach. Teachers will also use a range of activities such as whole class discussions and reflection activities to allow students to develop their own ideas and understanding.  Students will complete summative assessments once a half term which focus on the development of written skills that are essential within the study of religion.  

Homework is used to extend learning opportunities for our students through knowledge questions, research tasks and extended projects.  At KS4 homework is designed to support exam questions and to encourage students to use current affairs to deepen their subject knowledge.  

Students are encouraged to engage in inter-faith dialogue to actively build bridges. The curriculum has developed links with faith communities as well as the Humanist Society and other belief systems.  The programmes of study will endeavour to incorporate opportunities to visit places of worship around Liverpool as well as forge links with national societies such as the Holocaust Education Trust so that our students can experience a wide range of ideas that will impact their lives.   

Religious Education can lead to further study at A-Level and degree level in Theology, Philosophy, Religious Studies as well as the other Social Sciences.  Careers that RE may lead to include: 

  • Teaching 

  • Charity Work 

  • Social Work 

  • Law 

  • Medicine 

  • Public Services 

Religious Education Learning Journey

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