DEVIZES SCHOOL
THE HUMANITIES FACULTY
The faculty encompasses Citizenship Ethics, Geography, History and Psychology.
This is an exciting opportunity to become part of a dynamic, high profile and successful faculty. At
Devizes School, History, Ethics and Geography are the most popular option subjects and routinely
achieve outstanding exam results and ‘Value Added’ student progress.
It is expected that the successful candidate will specialise in Religious Studies, as this will form
almost the entire teaching requirement, but he/she would also be expected to show a commitment to
Citizenship and to the wider Humanities Faculty (History and Geography).
It is our Vision to be the best Faculty in the school and to prepare the Students for life with the best
possible understanding of their World.
Mr T Strickland (Head of Humanities)
THE ETHICS DEPARTMENT
The Ethics department encompasses Religious Studies, Citizenship and Psychology.
Religious Studies is a well-established, thriving and forward thinking subject within the school. It
has become highly popular in recent years and pupils respond well to the subject and see it as an
important element of their curriculum. We obtain consistently good and excellent exam results at
KS4 wherein all students will sit either a full or short course GCSE. Pupils are also keen to
continue with the subject as our soaring A Level numbers demonstrate. Recruitment for Religious
Studies A Level is amongst the highest in the school and as such the profile of the subject and the
department has been raised considerably.
Staffing
We are a small but close department, with real passion for our subjects. We operate in an open and
democratic way, with an open-door policy and strong professional relationships between staff. We
have two highly qualified full-time Religious Studies teachers with Buddhism/Eastern Traditions,
Psychology and Philosophy/Ethics specialisms. Furthermore we have one full time teacher of
Psychology who also delivers some KS3 Religious Studies/Citizenship. As a member of the newly
created Humanities Faculty, we will also be working in close collaboration with the History and
Geography departments and the staff therein. Traditionally we have also been responsible for the
delivery of PSHE, and whilst that will no longer be the case from Sept 2013 there will be a
transition period in which Ethics staff may still be called upon to deliver or advise on the delivery of
PSHE. In administration terms, the department is supported by a designated secretary and a support
staff worker.
Curriculum: Key Stage Three
Pupils receive one lesson of Religious Studies and one lesson of Citizenship per week. In Religious
Studies, the department follows the Wiltshire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Studies, covering
enquiry- led modules on Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism, often with an
ethical emphasis considering topical moral issues. All classes are mixed ability and TA support is
available where necessary.
1
Curriculum: Key Stage Four
We begin delivering AQA GCSE Religious Studies specification B in year 9 with the expectation
that as many as possible will sit the full course paper at the end of year 11. Students have one 50
minute lesson per week and are taught in mixed ability groups.
During year 10, students are assessed and streamed as appropriate into two categories:

those suitable for the full course who will study both the ‘Religion and Life’ and ‘Religion
and Citizenship’ modules in the AQA course and sit two exams (one for each module.)

those suitable for the short course paper who will study only the ‘Religion and Citizenship
module’ in the AQA course and sit only one exam.
Students continue to receive one lesson per week throughout year 10 and 11 and sit their exam(s) at
the end of the latter. There is no coursework requirement for the course.
Curriculum: Key Stage Five
Since its introduction eight years ago, A/S and A2 Level Religious Studies has rapidly grown to
become one of the most popular choices for students in the sixth form. Our numbers have more
than tripled in the last 3 years and we are proud of our current high profile. The AQA Religious
Studies GCE course is followed, utilising staff specialism to deliver modules on Applied Ethics and
Buddhism. There have also been a significant and increasing number of students who have gone on
to study Religious Studies, Philosophy or Religious Studies related courses at University.
Year 12 Modules:

Religion and Ethics 1

World Religions: Buddhism
Year 13 Modules:

A Study of Religion and Ethics

Life, Death and Beyond.
Students in Y12 and 13 receive ten lessons per fortnight (five for each module being studied).
Resources
The department is very well resourced:
 three specialist teaching rooms, each containing I.C.T. projectors, a computer linked to the
school network and a combined video/DVD player.
 a generous office/work area for its staff to work in.
 an extensive video and DVD library which are frequently used to develop and enhance the
learning of its pupils;
 a constantly updated selection of text books. The office contains most of the major titles on
the market and the department has collected together a wide variety of religious artefacts
which it constantly uses to enhance the learning of its pupils.
Miss Clare Dale (Head of Subject for Ethics, Citizenship and Psychology)
2