The RE curriculum at UCC is knowledge rich and follows the Cumbria Agreed Syllabus 2023. We explore religious and non-religious worldviews using the three disciplinary approaches of theology, philosophy and human sciences. This encourages our students to see religious and non-religious worldviews as important aspects of people’s lives that can provide diverse guidance, support and answers. As part of our knowledge rich curriculum, students will develop their religious literacy to think for themselves on the important questions that affect all our lives.
In RE, we analyse, evaluate and create responses to the big issues we face as humans, such as human rights, peace and conflict and medical ethics. In RE we explore systems of logic, thought and belief to develop our understanding of why people behave as they do. We encourage students to question the meaning and purpose of their lives to discover what they, as individuals, value and believe to be important, and why.
Key Stage 3
Using the three disciplinary approaches of theology, philosophy and human sciences, and Philosophy for Children, students investigate and learn about world religions and non-religious worldviews, including Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Cumbrian Spirituality and Humanism.
Key Stage 4
Students study Eduqas GCSE RE Route A, Religion, Philosophy and Ethics. We explore ethical issues including human rights, death and the afterlife, human relationships and good and evil. In the study of Christianity and Buddhism we explore beliefs and practices.
Key Stage 5
Students study OCR Religious Studies H573 and investigate and analyse the meaning and purpose of existence and critique the relationships that make up society. We analyse the origins of thought and how this influences human ethical behaviour.
Staff
- Mr M McCanny (Head of Department)
- Mrs N McCanny
- Miss E Slattery
Intent and implementation
Following the Cumbria Agreed Syllabus (2023) for Religious Education, our intent for the RE curriculum at UCC is to inspire our students to be confident, happy and successful learners who are supported and challenged to achieve their best outcomes in life. Our intent is to give learners the opportunity to be philosophical thinkers and explore a range of religious and worldwide views so that they can describe, explain, analyse, evaluate and create; allowing them to appreciate beliefs and practices, recognising British Values and the diversity of meanings and values within and between communities (including their own), and amongst individuals. Our intent is to be inclusive and build resilience so that our students are prepared to face challenges throughout their lives.
We implement this through the delivery of outstanding teaching that places high quality ‘deep’ learning at the centre of our planning. Our schemes of work balance the three disciplinary approaches of theology, philosophy and human sciences. Schemes of work are exciting and engage learners with learning from and about different world religions, worldviews and non- religious worldviews, philosophical thinking and global learning.
Throughout different schemes of work in each stage of learning, Philosophy for Children and experiential learning are at the heart of engaging all learners to feel safe to explore beliefs freely without judgement, to be confident and inquisitive, enjoy philosophical enquiry and debate, and will use what they have learnt to achieve good outcomes and become responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to their communities, society and the world.
Developing Cultural Capital
Teaching in the RE department supports the development of student’s cultural capital through learning about and from different world religions, philosophical and non religious beliefs. Through carefully planned and sequenced teaching and learning our students explore the relationship and impact of religious and non religious beliefs into people’s and communities lives locally, nationally and globally. Our students are encouraged and supported to explore ultimate questions of social, spiritual, economic and political importance.
Extracurricular opportunities
In addition to visiting speakers and trips such as the Buddhist temple visit, we run the school’s Debate Club which takes place during lunch on Wednesday (Week B only) and our Amnesty International club which is on Monday lunch times.
Careers Education
Our Religious Education curriculum supports the delivery of careers education throughout the key stages by focusing on the development of literacy and numeracy and the critical skills of analysis, evaluation, collaboration and real world problem solving; we encourage a curiosity about the world and explore the moral, social and environmental issues of our time and our responsibilities as global citizens. We aim to support our students in becoming the best versions of themselves and actively encourage them to be ambitious in their careers so they can be ‘the change they want to see in the world.’
