Intent

 The Religious Studies curriculum at Newton Abbot College is designed to cultivate deep understanding, tolerance, and respect for religious and non-religious worldviews. It equips students with critical thinking skills, ethical reasoning and empathy, enabling them to engage thoughtfully with complex moral and philosophical questions. Through the study of major world religions and belief systems, students develop the knowledge and confidence to navigate a diverse, multicultural society and to become reflective, responsible, and informed global citizens.

Key aspects of the Religious Studies curriculum intent include:

Understanding diversity and worldviews: Developing students’ substantive knowledge of a range of religious and non-religious worldviews and enabling them to understand how beliefs and practices shape individuals, communities, and societies.

Critical thinking and ethical reasoning: Equipping students with the disciplinary skills to analyse, evaluate and articulate reasoned responses to philosophical, ethical, and moral issues, including questions of justice, peace, and responsibility.

Knowledge-rich curriculum: Delivering a carefully structured and ambitious curriculum that ensures secure knowledge of the beliefs, teachings and practices of major world religions, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism.

Cultural capital and personal development: Enhancing students’ cultural capital by broadening their understanding of the world, supporting personal reflection, resilience, and the ability to express their own beliefs respectfully while valuing those of others.

Coherent and sequential Learning: Ensuring learning is logically sequenced and cumulative, with effective use of retrieval practice, knowledge organisers and personal learning checklists to support long-term retention and progression over time.

Religious Studies Learning Journey

Implementation: 

The KS3 curriculum is taught for one lesson per week and is designed to explore a range beliefs and encourage thoughtful engagement with religious and non-religious perspectives. Students study Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism and Humanism alongside moral issues, including Peace and Conflict and Forgiveness. The Religious Studies curriculum aims to develop empathy, critical thinking and evidence-based debate. It supports learning about and from religion, encouraging students to explore both faith-based and secular viewpoints and to consider differing perspectives respectfully.

At KS4, students study core Religious Studies delivered in one lesson per week over three half-terms each year. Students undertake thematic units including Medical Ethics and Global Moral Issues. Religious Studies is also offered as a GCSE option for students who wish to explore philosophical, ethical and moral questions in greater depth. The AQA course covers topics that are significant to people of all faiths and none, including beliefs about relationships, attitudes to crime and punishment, and peace and conflict. Students examine the influence of key religious figures in shaping beliefs, lifestyle choices and actions and students are supported in developing their own informed viewpoints and in reaching reasoned, balanced conclusions. While teaching focuses primarily on Christianity and Islam, students are also encouraged to respond from alternative religious, or secular perspectives.

Post 16, students delve deeply into Ancient Greek and modern philosophy, early and modern Christian thought and moral philosophy in the A Level course. They consider arguments for and against the existence of God, investigate the nature of religious experience, and examine the challenges Christianity faces in society today.

The curriculum is supported by high-quality, diverse resources that align with current guidance and ensure accurate representation and understanding of religious diversity. Regular opportunities for extended writing are central to our approach, giving students the time to process their learning and demonstrate their understanding and progress within the subject. Through carefully structured scaffolding, focused modelling, use of visualisers, and an emphasis on recalling key vocabulary and key concepts, we support our SEND/D students in fully accessing the curriculum. This is reflected in our outcomes at GCSE.

The department is committed to providing meaningful out-of-the-classroom learning experiences wherever possible. Year 10 students have opportunities to visit Exeter Mosque and Exeter Cathedral, while year 12 students attend the annual A Level Religion, Philosophy and Ethics conference in Somerset.

Impact

Religious Studies is a popular and well-established subject at Newton Abbot College across all key stages, and the department is proud of the strong progress made by students. Students are able to articulate the value of studying Religious Studies and demonstrate high levels of engagement and enjoyment in their learning. Students leave Newton Abbot College with a secure and coherent understanding of major world religions and belief systems, as well as the ability to explore philosophical and ethical questions that shape human experience. Students develop deep knowledge, curiosity, critical thinking and effective communication skills. They are reflective, respectful and well prepared for further study with some choosing to continue Religious Studies and related disciplines at university level.