GCSE Religious Studies
Religious Studies is not about making the indivdual religious, it is about enabling students to think for themselves about religious and moral issues.
It will give them the opportunity to consider problems they may face in their lives and help work out how to deal with them. It will also be of interest to those who want to be better informed about religion, which has always had an important influence on world events.
Religious Studies at Key Stage 4 builds on what has been learnt about religion up to Key Stage 3. The GCSE qualification will be studied as a full course that has two main sections. The first section ’Religion and Life’ covers topics such as, why some people believe in God and why others do not, beliefs about life after death, abortion and euthanasia, marriage and divorce, the influence of religion on family life, gender and religion, religion in a multi-ethnic and multi-faith society, religion and the problems of world poverty.
The second section Religion and Society is based on a study of Christianity and one other religion, which covers the relation of religion to such things as politics, conflict, the environment, animal rights, crime and punishment, and medical treatments.
Entry Requirements
There are no formal qualifications for the Religious Studies GCSE. Religious Studies is a compulsory subject at Key Stage 4.
Method of Assessment
The assessment for the GCSE Religious Studies is done through examination. There is a 2 hour written exam for each of the two sections of the course. There is no coursework for either of the sections.
Future opportunities
A GCSE in Religious Studies is a stepping stone to a wide range of future opportunities. The skills students develop will support them in further studies and employment. A good grade at GCSE will enable students to progress to an AS or A level in Religious Studies.
GCSE Religious Studies also prepares students to work and deal with people of different cultures and beliefs which can be very useful for careers such as the police, the caring professions and the armed forces.
Further Information
Religious Studies will help develop key skills in communication, information technology, working with others, problem solving and improving your own learning. It will also give students skills in making decisions about moral problems, and help them to become sure about their own beliefs and explain them clearly to others. It is not about making each individual student religious; it is about enabling them to think for themselves about religious and moral issues.
