Religious Education

There are many questions in life:

• Is there life after death
• Is euthanasia morally right?
• Should divorce be allowed?

These are questions that we find ourselves asking in this subject, questions that are interesting but also prepare students for society, but most of all inspire them to think and to question. RE helps pupils to think seriously and independently about morality and spirituality through examining the world’s major religious traditions.

Discussion, detective games, debating, questioning and research are all employed in Year 9 RE. Pupils look at various issues including Christianity, what evidence there is for the existence of Jesus and what he may of looked like. Pupils then consider Islam, what the main beliefs are and how it was founded.

At GCSE all pupils follow OCR Short Course in Philosophy and Applied Ethics. Shapwick teachers believe that this specification encourages pupils to be inspired and moved by following a course that examines Christianity and Human Relationships (marriage, divorce and family) and Poverty and Wealth (reasons for poverty, charity). In the final year pupils study Islam, Equality (racism, sexism, forgiveness and reconciliation) and Islam in the Media (TV, newspapers, film).

100% of Shapwick pupils gain their GCSE and 50% achieve a Grade A* to C.