“Religious
Studies? – but I
don’t want to be
a vicar!”
We study GCSE Religious
Studies because:
• We live in a diverse society:
understanding religious beliefs, ideas
and outlooks, means we can
understand the world in which we live.
• Skills: RS develops critical thinking,
evaluation and empathy.
• It is a subjects which asks the ‘Big
Questions’ in life.
Religious Studies is a
subject that makes
you
THINK!
Is
abortion
ever
justified?
Should
‘life’
mean
life?
Should
we
forgive?
Is war
ever
justified?
There are no easy
answers.
Even RE teachers
don’t know whether
God exists!
You’ll consider questions
such as ……….
Is it right that some people are millionaires while
others live in extreme poverty?
Should Capital Punishment be reintroduced in the
UK?
How might a Christian help the poor?
Should smokers and drinkers be made to pay for
their own health care?
What does Islam teach about taking drugs?
Are religious people less likely to be prejudiced?
How can a qualification in
RS help me in the future?
Metropolitan Police Recruitment Office:
“It shows that a person has some understanding
of the beliefs and values of others.”
Journalist: “RS is a way of broadening your
understanding of the world and of people. In
this job, you have to meet people from all
walks of life, and a huge range of cultural
backgrounds.”
Cardiologist: “When you work in a hospital,
you come across quite a lot of people from
varying backgrounds. Studying RS prepared
me for this.”
AQA GCSE
Religious Studies
(Short Course)
Unit 2: Religion and
Life Issues
What do we study in the
Short Course?
• Christian and Muslim attitudes to:
• Prejudice
• Early Life (Abortion)
• War and Peace
• Planet Earth
• Animal Rights
• Young People
AQA GCSE
Religious Studies
(Full Course)
Unit 2+Unit 3:
Religion and
Morality
What do we study in the
Full Course?
Christian and Muslim attitudes to:
•
•
•
•
•
World Poverty
Rich and Poor in British Society
Crime and Punishment
Drug Abuse
The Elderly and Death
Is there coursework?
• No – it’s 100% examination
taken at the end of Year 11
However, there is an
assessment at the end of
each topic so you know how
you’re doing!
What are the
exam results
like?
GCSE RS (Short Course)
o 2003
81% of pupils achieved A*- C
o 2004
91% of pupils achieved A*- C
o 2005
88.5% of pupils achieved A*- C
o 2006
85.9% of pupils achieved A*- C
o 2007
68% of pupils achieved A*-C
o 2008
88% of pupils achieved A*-C (64% A*/A)
o In 2008 PGHS Religious Studies (Short
Course) achieved the second highest ‘value
added’ score in Lancashire. We were ranked
2nd out of 77 schools.
GCSE RS: Full Course
o
o
o
o
o
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
100% of pupils achieved A*- C
100% of pupils achieved A*- C
100% of pupils achieved A*- C
100% of pupils achieved A*-C
100% of pupils achieved A*-C
(86% A*/A)
o In 2008 PGHS Religious Studies (Full Course) achieved
the highest ‘value added’ score in Lancashire. We were
ranked 1st out of 74 schools.
Pupils say… (honest!!)
• “RS GCSE option is
brilliant: it has definitely
widened my knowledge. I
find it to be the most
challenging subject and the
most interesting.”
Pupils say… (honest!!)
• “I’m not religious but I really enjoy
RS. It’s really interesting to learn
about different religions’ attitudes to
issues such as Capital Punishment and
Rich & Poor. I think you need to be
respectful of other people’s views and
opinions to be successful in RS.”
Pupils say… (honest!!)
•“Don’t take RS if
you are narrowminded”
Pupils say… (honest!!)
• “The best thing about RS is
that we learn a variety of
topics which affect our every
day lives and it is important
that we have a clear
understanding of what the many
faiths think about them.”