Religious Studies
Head of Department: Mrs D. Wood.
Teaching Staff: Mrs R. Carlisle, Miss C. Flanagan, Mrs L. McClintock, Mrs J. McKittrick and Mrs A. McLeese.
Religious Studies plays an important role in the holistic development of our students at Hunterhouse College. The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of all students and takes account of the diverse cultural and religious backgrounds that the College welcomes.
Religious Studies seeks to develop students’ awareness and understanding of religious beliefs, teachings, practices, forms of expression and the influence of religion on individuals, families, communities and cultures. Religious Studies at Hunterhouse, encourages students to learn from, and respect, the diversity of these different religious beliefs, values and traditions.
Every student in Years 8 to 12 follows the legal requirements of the subject in Key Stages 3 and 4 as specified by the Department of Education for Northern Ireland and as outlined in the Core Syllabus for Religious Education.
Key Stage 3
The KS3 curriculum is vibrant and exciting. It is designed to encourage students to explore different faiths and backgrounds and ask searching questions in a safe and respectful environment. RS at KS3 helps students to develop arguments and justify their opinions, key skills needed at GCSE, A level and in the world of work.
Year 8 | Year 9 | Year 10 |
Decision making Holy Books Saint Patrick World Religions |
Judaism Moses and the Ten Commandments The World of Jesus Self-Image |
Social Justice: Slavery Islam The Early Church Racism and Discrimination |
GCSE
At Hunterhouse College we follow the CCEA Religious Studies specification. All GCSE students study Ethics. Those who choose full course Religious Studies also study Philosophy of Religion. The choice of units enables students from all religious backgrounds, or none, to express their personal responses and informed insights on fundamental questions about identity, belonging, meaning, purpose, truth, values and commitments.
Ethics | Philosophy |
Personal and Family Issues Matters of Life and death Bioethics Contemporary Issues in Christianity Modern Warfare
|
The existence of God The Nature of God The Problem of Evil and Suffering Experiencing God Life after Death
The above topics consider the perspectives of Christianity, Islam and Hinduism. |
AS and A Level
Students at AS continue their studies in Ethics, alongside the study of Philosophy. Both units include a section of other aspects of human experience. We research local, national and global events that relate to our areas of study.
Philosophy | Ethics |
Arguments for the Existence of God God, Atheism and the Problem of Evil The Problem of Miracles Religious Experiences Other aspects of human experience including: faith and reason, evil in the world, the value of miracles for the believer and religious conversion. |
Deontological approaches to Moral Decision Making Teleological approaches to Moral Decision Making Abortion Euthanasia Bioethics Other aspects of human experience including; moral absolutes; ethical and state responsibilities to abortion; faith and ethics in the public square; issues arising from new reproductive technologies |
Students continue to study Ethics and Philosophy at A2. Students study synoptic themes at A2, giving them the opportunity to draw connections between their different areas of study.
Philosophy | Ethics |
Religious language, science and religious belief The afterlife: body, soul and personal identity Religion and morality
Synoptic themes are: Faith, Freedom and Atheism. |
Moral Theory The Nature of Rights- human and animal rights. Sexuality identity and gender justice War and Peace Justice, Law and Punishment
Synoptic themes are; Conscience, Freedom and Tolerance. |
Religious Studies allows students to develop important skills needed for further study and the world of work. These include:
- synthesis and evaluation via synoptic assessment;
- higher order thinking skills through independent learning tasks, creative thinking and problem-solving;
- formulating responsible judgements on significant textual, theological, philosophical and moral issues; and
- advanced study skills.
Head of Department: Mrs D. Wood.
Teaching Staff: Mrs R. Carlisle, Miss C. Flanagan, Mrs L. McClintock, Mrs J. McKittrick and Mrs A. McLeese.
Religious Studies plays an important role in the holistic development of our students at Hunterhouse College. The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of all students and takes account of the diverse cultural and religious backgrounds that the College welcomes.
Religious Studies seeks to develop students’ awareness and understanding of religious beliefs, teachings, practices, forms of expression and the influence of religion on individuals, families, communities and cultures. Religious Studies at Hunterhouse, encourages students to learn from, and respect, the diversity of these different religious beliefs, values and traditions.
Every student in Years 8 to 12 follows the legal requirements of the subject in Key Stages 3 and 4 as specified by the Department of Education for Northern Ireland and as outlined in the Core Syllabus for Religious Education.
Key Stage 3
The KS3 curriculum is vibrant and exciting. It is designed to encourage students to explore different faiths and backgrounds and ask searching questions in a safe and respectful environment. RS at KS3 helps students to develop arguments and justify their opinions, key skills needed at GCSE, A level and in the world of work.
Year 8 | Year 9 | Year 10 |
Decision making Holy Books Saint Patrick World Religions |
Judaism Moses and the Ten Commandments The World of Jesus Self-Image |
Social Justice: Slavery Islam The Early Church Racism and Discrimination |
GCSE
At Hunterhouse College we follow the CCEA Religious Studies specification. All GCSE students study Ethics. Those who choose full course Religious Studies also study Philosophy of Religion. The choice of units enables students from all religious backgrounds, or none, to express their personal responses and informed insights on fundamental questions about identity, belonging, meaning, purpose, truth, values and commitments.
Ethics | Philosophy |
Personal and Family Issues Matters of Life and death Bioethics Contemporary Issues in Christianity Modern Warfare
|
The existence of God The Nature of God The Problem of Evil and Suffering Experiencing God Life after Death
The above topics consider the perspectives of Christianity, Islam and Hinduism. |
AS and A Level
Students at AS continue their studies in Ethics, alongside the study of Philosophy. Both units include a section of other aspects of human experience. We research local, national and global events that relate to our areas of study.
Philosophy | Ethics |
Arguments for the Existence of God God, Atheism and the Problem of Evil The Problem of Miracles Religious Experiences Other aspects of human experience including: faith and reason, evil in the world, the value of miracles for the believer and religious conversion. |
Deontological approaches to Moral Decision Making Teleological approaches to Moral Decision Making Abortion Euthanasia Bioethics Other aspects of human experience including; moral absolutes; ethical and state responsibilities to abortion; faith and ethics in the public square; issues arising from new reproductive technologies |
Students continue to study Ethics and Philosophy at A2. Students study synoptic themes at A2, giving them the opportunity to draw connections between their different areas of study.
Philosophy | Ethics |
Religious language, science and religious belief The afterlife: body, soul and personal identity Religion and morality
Synoptic themes are: Faith, Freedom and Atheism. |
Moral Theory The Nature of Rights- human and animal rights. Sexuality identity and gender justice War and Peace Justice, Law and Punishment
Synoptic themes are; Conscience, Freedom and Tolerance. |
Religious Studies allows students to develop important skills needed for further study and the world of work. These include:
- synthesis and evaluation via synoptic assessment;
- higher order thinking skills through independent learning tasks, creative thinking and problem-solving;
- formulating responsible judgements on significant textual, theological, philosophical and moral issues; and
- advanced study skills.