KS4 (GCSE) Curriculum

GCSE Religious Studies is an exciting course that enables students to apply philosophical, religious and ethical theories to the world in which they live. 

Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies (C120P3)

The Eduqas GCSE encourages students to gain an understanding of the beliefs, teachings and practices of two major world religions. Alongside this, students will explore the opinions and convictions of non-religious believers, explore ultimate questions such as "if God exists, why does evil exist?”, and improve their understanding of the many contemporary ethical and religious issues that arise in societies across the world. 

Assessment is entirely by written examination at the end of Year 11. Students are assessed on their ability to define, describe, explain, analyse and evaluate.

Throughout this three-year course, students will study three components. 

Component One: Religious, Philosophical and Ethical Studies in the Modern World

This component accounts for half of the content of the GCSE and provides students with the opportunity to study four philosophical and ethical themes.

• Issues of Relationships: Gender equality, sex, marriage, and divorce. 

• Issues of Life and Death: Medical ethics, environmental issues, and attitudes towards death.

• Issues of Good and Evil: Crime, punishment, justice, forgiveness, and the issue of suffering for religious believers. 

• Issues of Human Rights: Prejudice, poverty, extremism, and censorship. 

Component Two: A Study of Christianity

This component provides students with the opportunity to undertake an in-depth study of Christianity as a world religion. Students will look at Christian beliefs, teachings and practices, and the impact they have on communities and individual believers.

Component Three: A Study of Islam

This component allows an exploration of the religion of Islam. Students will study the beliefs, teachings and practices of Islam and the impact they have on the lives of believers.

Core Religious Studies

Students not opting to take Religious Studies at GCSE continue their core RS lessons in Year 10.

Year 10: 1 lesson per fortnight

Students study the rise of atheism, the influence of Friedrich Nietzsche and the impact of non-religious worldviews on global culture. Students also explore the role of storytelling in religions and, in the final term, begin a short course in ethical theory.