“Religious Studies? – but I don’t want to be a vicar!”

1. “Religious Studies? – but I don’t want to be a vicar!”

2. 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.

3. Religious Studies is a subject that makes you THINK!

4. Is abortion ever justified?

5. Should ‘life’ mean life?

6. Should we forgive?

7. Is war ever justified?

8. There are no easy answers.Even RE teachers don’t know whether God exists!

9. 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?

10. 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.”

11. AQA GCSE Religious Studies (Short Course) Unit 2: Religion and Life Issues

12. 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

13. AQA GCSE Religious Studies (Full Course) Unit 2+Unit 3: Religion and Morality

14. 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

15. 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!

16. What are the exam results like?

17. GCSE RS (Short Course) • 2003 81% of pupils achieved A*- C • 2004 91% of pupils achieved A*- C • 2005 88.5% of pupils achieved A*- C • 2006 85.9% of pupils achieved A*- C • 2007 68% of pupils achieved A*-C • 2008 88% of pupils achieved A*-C (64% A*/A) • In 2008 PGHS Religious Studies (Short Course) achieved the second highest ‘value added’ score in Lancashire. We were ranked 2nd out of 77 schools.

18. GCSE RS: Full Course • 2004 100% of pupils achieved A*- C • 2005 100% of pupils achieved A*- C • 2006 100% of pupils achieved A*- C • 2007 100% of pupils achieved A*-C • 2008 100% of pupils achieved A*-C (86% A*/A) • In 2008 PGHS Religious Studies (Full Course) achieved the highest ‘value added’ score in Lancashire. We were ranked 1st out of 74 schools.

19. 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.”

20. 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.”

21. Pupils say… (honest!!) • “Don’t take RS if you are narrow-minded”

22. 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.”