RPS

The study of the world’s religions is critical for the understanding of humanity in its totality. One cannot understand many of the current affairs across our planet without first understanding the beliefs and values that underpin them. Likewise, we cannot understand the essence of being human without consideration of the philosophy that informs many of our decision-making processes in life.

Our intent at Tiverton High School is that Religious and Philosophical Studies (RPS) provides students with the knowledge and understanding required to make sense of the world around them, and of their own being. We aim to provide a platform for the consideration of the philosophical, ethical and practical matters of life so that our young people can ascertain what matters to them and how they fit into the modern global community.
The curriculum for years 7-9 provides an in-depth study of the beliefs, teachings and practices of the world’s six major religions, as well as consideration of philosophical and ethical issues and concepts which permeate and underpin all world views. After an introduction to the diversity of the ‘modern global community’ including the six main world faiths and their ‘sources of authority’ students in Year 7 study Sikhism and Hinduism before looking at ‘religious practices and celebrations’.
Year 8 begins by introducing students to some moral, ethical and philosophical issues before studying the two religions of Buddhism and Judaism. Year 9 builds on the work in Year 8 with some consideration of more challenging moral and ethical issues and how they may be influenced by both religious and non-religious beliefs. Students then spend time considering the role of philosophy before studying the last of the six major religions of Christianity and Islam. This curriculum gives students the foundation to go on and study the EDUQAS Route A Religious Studies GCSE in years 10 and 11.

The GCSE tightens to cover two main religions; Christianity and Islam, whilst acknowledging Humanism/Atheism as a philosophical outlook. It also covers four ethical components which include issues of human relationships; issues of life and death; issues of good and evil and issues of human rights.

During the two-year programme of study students are exposed to a depth of philosophy which is demanding and moral and ethical debates they will find challenging. As a department, we are committed to meeting the needs of all our students. Our curriculum is designed to not only provide the knowledge and skills they need to achieve their potential in the GCSE, but also challenge them to reflect and develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their world.