The Religion & Life Curriculum and Rationale

Abstracts like morality, spirituality, democracy and ethics cannot be taught, they have to be experienced. At Abbotsholme we seek to promote the personal, spiritual, social and health development of pupils through the whole curriculum and the whole school experience as well as through specific Life and Religion lessons. We seek to develop the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary for physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health and happiness and for successful and happy participation in society.

5 Year Overview

This can basically be summed up as: care for yourself; care for your family and friends; care for your school; care for the environment; care for the wider world.

Through the practical and physical, we seek to nurture and support spiritual and emotional well-being, with a programme which promotes awareness of self and others and encourages team work and good citizenship.

The following list of topics and issues gives an indication of what is covered in these lessons but is not exhaustive:

Year 7                                                                                                                                               

Religion: What is The Bible? The Old Testament: Stories about creation in Genesis and other traditions; the nature of religious worship and the origins of Judaism; stories of prophets and kings; Passover, festivals and a visit to a synagogue.                                                            

Life: Diet and exercise; friendship and relationships; effects of smoking and drinking; puberty

Year 8                                                                                                                                              

Religion: New Testament life and teaching of Jesus; faith and miracles; the beliefs of Christianity, festivals and the Church; a church visit and rites of birth, marriage and death.                             

Life: Self-esteem, body image, respecting parents and home, prejudice and racism, dangerous behaviours, how babies are made and rules of friendship and dating.

Year 9                                                                                                                                               

Religion: The historical basis of Jesus’ life; understanding other religions and cultures: Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism; visiting a mosque, a temple and a gurdwara in Birmingham.                   

Life: Becoming an adult, eating disorders, staying safe, making healthy lifestyle choices.

Year 10                                                                                                                                              

Religion and Life: Emotional, spiritual and physical well-being; bullying, mental health, addiction and dependency, sexual health and behaviour; different attitudes to God and morality in different world religions and cultures. How lifestyle choices affect one’s life.

Year 11                                                                                                                                           

Religion and Life: Human rights and global citizenship issues; the ethics of abortion, capital punishment, genetic modification, euthanasia etc. Buddhism and inner happiness.