Head of Department: Ms Eden

Teachers: Mrs Bola, Mr Chu

The Philosophy, Religion and Ethics Department follows the Locally Agreed Syllabus (SACRE), aiming to achieve the following:

INTENT 

• For students to acquire and develop both knowledge and understanding of Christianity and other principal religions in both depth and breadth.
• To encourage students to reflect upon a variety of responses made by religious traditions to moral and religious issues and to develop the ability of students to make reasoned and informed judgements about such issues
• To foster the spiritual development of students and the consideration of alternative value systems
• To engender a culture of learning from others and respecting differences, within the classroom and wider society.
• To develop within students a positive attitude towards other people, respecting and appreciating their beliefs and values as members of a diverse and pluralistic society. This is in the context of Burnham Grammar School and wider British values
• To encourage students to think critically about their beliefs and those of others, and to develop mature and eloquent responses to questions of faith, philosophy and ethics.

IMPLEMENTATION 

• SOWs cover Christianity in Yr7, 8, 9, 10 and 11.
• SOWs include exclusive modules on Buddhism in Yr8, Yr12 and Yr13; Hinduism is Yr7 and Yr10; Islam in Yr7; Judaism in Yr7; Sikhism in Yr8.
• All religions are considered within the Themematic Modules of GCSE in Yrs9-11, with contrasts and similarities discussed
• P4C, discussions and debates incorporated into the curriculum plan and SOWs for all years and every module.
• Films and documentaries used within modules (Remember the Titans Yr7; Harriet Yr7; Jesus Camp Yr9; Richard Dawkins -The Genius of Darwin Yr9; Louis Theroux - The Most Hated Family in America Yr10; Terry Pratchett Choosing to Die Yr11; Abortion on Trial Yr11) to give students varied learning experience and in-depth point of view from specialists
• Outside speakers invited to school to speak to students from their perspective and take questions from students: Wayne Dixon from Christian Connections; Rabbi Romain from Maidenheaed Synagogue; Anthony Professor Brian Black from Lancaster University.
• Visits arranged to local places of worship including Bhaktivendanta Manor mandir, Slough Baptist Church, Taplow Buddhist Centre
• Projects completed within SOWs (Jesus: This is Your Life Yr7, Design a Religion Yr7, Diver-City Yr8, Revelation Themepark Yr9) require students to reflect on existing ideas and examples, and use these to build their own ideas.
• Debate Club overseen by department and led by KS5 students, open to all years to attend.
• Opinion line activity used in lessons to encourage students to decide their opinion and reflect on the range of opinions

IMPACT 

The intended impact of the Curriculum and wider enrichment is intended to fully support aspects of the school aims: Responsible learners, Active citizens, Caring individuals, Prepared for the future, Happy, healthy and safe, through equipping students with:

• Knowledge of religions around them equip students to be active members of their diverse community, interacting with people in appropriate and respectful ways.
• Having knowledge of the faiths' responses to philosophical and ethical issues present in the world around them allow students to develop apply their views and apply them to a wide range of situations.
• Students have numerous and frequent opportunities to voice their views and listen to those of others in a safe learning environment and through a range of learning experiences.
• The wide range of activities implemented in PRE/RS lessons give all students the opportunity to learn about the living religions and develop their own sense of self and personal views on the range of topics examined.
• Hearing a range of views and interacting with a broad range of people will encourage students to interact with variety in wider society while equipping them with the tools to do this in an informed and mature manner.