Religious Studies

Religious Studies plays an important part in the King's House curriculum. Along with the other subjects in the Humanities range, it widens pupils' horizons and encourages them to look beyond their own personal experience.

Religious Studies encourages understanding and tolerance through the exploration and knowledge of many viewpoints.

At King's House the aim of Religious Studies Department is to:

Acquire knowledge and understanding of the central beliefs and practices of the major world religions.
To be aware of how these beliefs and practices shape peoples' behaviour
Cultivate an atmosphere of empathy with those who hold religious beliefs and thus develop a respect for others
To open pupils' minds to the possibility of a spiritual element to life, and to help pupils to appreciate that this is part of the world in which they live.
To stimulate pupils' thinking on "life issues", right and wrong, the nature of both religion and God, so as to enable them to make informed decisions on these issues.
To prepare pupils for leaving exams in year 8, at Common Entrance or Scholarship.

Year 4 and 5 pupils embark on a lively study of the main stories of the Old and New Testament.

Year 6 is spent studying the six major World Religions and several visits are made to various places of worship (see the School Trips section).

Year 7 and 8 follow the Common Entrance syllabus which involves sections on World Religions and Old and New Testament stories. These stories are linked to contemporary moral issues and pupils in years 7 and 8 are encouraged to think about the issues arising from the Bible texts. These include such issues as environmental care, capital punishment, friendship and social justice. A debating club is held at lunch times to enhance the Common Entrance syllabus.