Mrs Muryum Khan Subject Leader for Religious Studies

Mr John Dangana  Religious Studies Teacher

Mr Mohammed Israr Religious Studies Teacher

The Religious Studies curriculum at Waddesdon Church of England School is designed to inspire curiosity, deepen understanding and encourage students to engage thoughtfully with some of life’s most profound questions. Rooted in our Christian foundation, the curriculum enables students to explore Christianity alongside other major world religions, developing a respectful appreciation of diverse beliefs, values and worldviews.

Throughout Key Stage 3, students build a broad foundation of religious knowledge by studying Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism, whilst engaging with philosophical and ethical issues that remain relevant in today’s society. They develop the disciplinary skills of explanation, interpretation, analysis and evaluation, preparing them for further study and fostering open-mindedness, empathy and intellectual confidence.

At Key Stage 4, students follow the AQA GCSE Religious Studies A specification, studying Christianity and Islam in depth alongside contemporary ethical themes. They explore religious beliefs, practices and sources of wisdom and authority, applying these to real-world issues through critical discussion and balanced evaluation. Students develop strong literacy, analytical thinking and extended writing skills that support success across the wider curriculum.

At Key Stage 5, students undertake the AQA A Level Religious Studies course, exploring Philosophy of Religion, Ethics and Christianity through the study of influential scholars, philosophical arguments and theological perspectives. Students are challenged to think critically, evaluate competing viewpoints and construct sophisticated arguments, preparing them for higher education and a wide range of future careers.

Across all key stages, our curriculum encourages students to become reflective, compassionate and informed individuals who can engage respectfully with different beliefs and perspectives. Religious Studies equips students with the knowledge, confidence and critical thinking skills to understand the complexities of religion and belief in the modern world and to make thoughtful, reasoned contributions to society.

KS3 Booklet

Throughout Key Stage 3, students develop a broad understanding of Christianity and the major world religions whilst exploring philosophical and ethical questions relevant to modern society. The curriculum builds substantive knowledge alongside the skills of explanation, interpretation, analysis and evaluation, providing a strong foundation for GCSE Religious Studies.

Year 7

Term 1

• Introduction to Religion and Worldviews
• Christianity: Beliefs and the Person of Jesus

Term 2

• Christian Worship and Practices
• The Church and Christian Living

Term 3

• Judaism
• Jewish Beliefs, Worship and Festivals

Year 8

Term 1 – Buddhism

• The Life of the Buddha
• The Four Noble Truths
• The Eightfold Path
• Karma and Rebirth
• Meditation and Mindfulness
• The Five Moral Precepts
• Buddhist Worship and Places of Worship
• Vesak and Buddhist Festivals

Term 2 – Philosophy and Ethics

• Philosophy and Ethics
• Good and Evil
• Crime and Punishment
• Justice and Forgiveness

Term 3 – Equality

• Religion and Society
• Human Rights
• Equality
• Environmental Responsibility

KS4 Syllabus

Students follow the AQA GCSE Religious Studies A specification, studying Christianity, Islam and four thematic studies. The course develops students’ knowledge of religious beliefs and practices whilst equipping them with the analytical, evaluative and essay-writing skills needed to examine contemporary moral and philosophical issues from a range of perspectives.

Paper 1 – The Study of Religions

Christianity: Beliefs

• The Nature of God
• Creation
• The Incarnation
• The Crucifixion
• The Resurrection and Ascension
• Sin and Salvation
• Life After Death
• Judgement
• Heaven and Hell

Christianity: Practices

• Worship and Prayer
• The Sacraments
• Baptism
• Holy Communion (Eucharist)
• Pilgrimage
• Celebrating Christmas and Easter
• The Role of the Church in the Local and Worldwide Community
• Mission and Evangelism
• Persecution
• The Church and World Poverty
• Reconciliation
• The Work of Christian Charities

Islam: Beliefs

• The Six Articles of Faith (Sunni Islam)
• The Five Roots of Usul ad-Din (Shi’a Islam)
• The Nature of Allah
• Angels
• Predestination (Al-Qadr) and Human Freedom
• Life After Death (Akhirah)
• Prophethood (Risalah)
• Holy Books
• Imamate (Shi’a Islam)

Islam: Practices

• The Five Pillars of Sunni Islam
• The Ten Obligatory Acts (Shi’a Islam)
• Jihad
• Worship and Prayer
• Festivals (Eid ul-Fitr, Eid ul-Adha and Ashura)
• Duties and Festivals within the Muslim Community

Paper 2 – Thematic Studies

• Theme A: Relationships and Families – Explore the nature of relationships, marriage, family life, gender equality and contemporary issues including sexuality and family planning from religious and ethical perspectives.
• Theme B: Religion and Life – Investigate questions about the origins and value of life, the environment, animal rights, abortion and euthanasia, considering both religious teachings and modern ethical debates.
• Theme D: Religion, Peace and Conflict – Examine the causes of war and conflict, justice, forgiveness, peace-making, terrorism and the role of religion in promoting reconciliation and human rights.
• Theme E: Religion, Crime and Punishment – Consider issues of justice, law, punishment, forgiveness, equality and social responsibility, exploring how religious beliefs influence responses to crime and rehabilitation.

KS5 Syllabus

Students follow the AQA A Level Religious Studies specification, exploring Philosophy of Religion, Ethics and Christianity in depth. The course develops sophisticated critical thinking, philosophical reasoning and academic writing, preparing students for university and a wide range of careers.

Philosophy of Religion

Students study:

• Arguments for the Existence of God
  • Design Argument
  • Cosmological Argument
  • Ontological Argument
• Challenges to Religious Belief
  • The Problem of Evil
  • Religious Experience
  • Miracles
  • Self and Life After Death
• Religious Language
• Attributes of God
• Religious Belief as a Product of the Human Mind
• The Nature and Influence of Religious Experience

Ethics

Students study:

• Normative Ethical Theories
  • Natural Moral Law
  • Situation Ethics
  • Kantian Ethics
  • Utilitarianism
• Applied Ethics
  • Euthanasia
  • Business Ethics
  • Sexual Ethics
• Meta-Ethics
  • Intuitionism
  • Emotivism
  • Naturalism
• Free Will and Moral Responsibility
• Conscience

Christianity

Students study:

Sources of Wisdom and Authority

• The Bible
• Interpretation of Scripture
• Church Authority

God

• The Nature of God
• The Trinity

Self, Death and the Afterlife

Good Conduct and Key Moral Principles

Expression of Religious Identity

• Baptism
• Eucharist
• Prayer
• Pilgrimage
• Christianity, Gender and Society
• Christianity and Science
• The Challenge of Secularisation
• Liberation Theology and Marx
• Religious Pluralism
• The Person of Jesus Christ
• Christian Moral Action
• Christian Responses to Poverty and Social Justice
• Christian Responses to Migration

• Across Key Stages 3 & 4, students experience visits to a number of places of worship. This develops an experiential insight into religious practices.  Although they can vary each year,  previous visits include the parish church of St Michael and All Angels Church, Christchurch Cathedral in Oxford, Aylesbury Central Mosque, St Alban’s Cathedral and the Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in Hemel Hempstead. 
• At Sixth Form, the students attend a conference focused on A Level philosophical, ethical and theological topics.  This is an opportunity to broaden and deepen their understanding.
• Is There a God? Week offers all students to the opportunity to listen to and debate with academics and faith leaders on topics surrounding the nature of God and his existence.  

• Across Key Stages 3 & 4, students experience visits to a number of places of worship. This develops an experiential insight into religious practices. Although they can vary each year,  previous visits include the parish church of St Michael and All Angels Church, Christchurch Cathedral in Oxford, Aylesbury Central Mosque, St Alban’s Cathedral and the Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in Hemel Hempstead.

  High prior attainers are regularly provided with opportunities to explore material beyond the GCSE and A Level specifications through wider reading, academic articles, university lectures and online platforms such as Massolit. Independent research tasks, philosophical enquiry and extended evaluative writing encourage students to make connections across topics and engage with the work of influential scholars and thinkers.

  Students are also encouraged to participate in enrichment opportunities including our annual Is There a God? (ITAG) Week, external speakers, debates, Spirited Arts competitions, essay competitions and opportunities to engage with local faith communities. These experiences allow students to encounter a diverse range of beliefs and perspectives whilst developing confidence in articulating and defending their own ideas respectfully.

  Achievement is celebrated through departmental recognition, including Philosopher of the Week, which acknowledges students who consistently demonstrate exceptional curiosity, thoughtful questioning, intellectual resilience and excellence in Religious Studies. Through these opportunities, we aim to cultivate reflective, articulate and open-minded learners who are equipped to thrive both academically and as responsible citizens in an increasingly diverse world.