“Religion, Values & Ethics seeks to empower learners to be inquisitive, curious and informed through an engaging curriculum that is challenging and progressive. The subject experiences will develop learner resilience and ambition and prepare them for lifelong learning”.

Subjects Offered:

 
At GCSE We Offer:
• RS GCSE

At KS5 We Offer:
• As Level RS
• A Level RS

As of 2022 the RVE department has adopted the curriculum for Wales approach, implementing current, engaging, and relevant Programmes of Learning that are academically stimulating and interesting for learners. This approach encompasses the school ethos of developing our learners to be collaborative, resilient, and reflective individuals.

The department adopts variety of learning methods to engage all learners and allow for academic progress throughout each Programme of Learning. As well as embedding literacy, numeracy, and digital competency skills the department seeks to develop learners’ wider skills though a variety of Teaching & Learning methods, such as problem solving or personal effectiveness.

Key Stage 3
The RVE curriculum follows the local agreed syllabus and works within the Humanities Area of Learning, which includes Business Studies, Geography and History.
In Year 7 learners engage in a Humanities driven curriculum, where learners engage with 2 cross curricular Big Questions;

• How do big events shape our world?
• Is freedom important?

In Year 8 learners explore Big Questions shared with the Humanities Area of learning as well as subject specific RVE programmes of learning.

• Who goes where? (Humanities AOLE)
• Judaism (RVE PoL)
• Christianity (RVE PoL)
• Humanities Vs Disease – Can we win the battle? (Humanities AOLE)

In Year 9 learners continue to explore Big Questions shared with the Humanities Area of learning as well as subject specific RVE programmes of learning.

• Does God Exist? – The problem with Evil and Suffering (RVE PoL)
• Alternative Christian Religions and their ethical dilemmas (RVE PoL)
• Crime – Is our Country Safe? (Humanities PoL)

Key Stage 4
Learners will have the opportunity to carry on with their RS study at GCSE as part of their GCSE options. RS appears in two of the four columns and continues to be a popular option for our learners.

We follow the WJEC specification which allows students to study a total of eight units of work through an exploration of Christianity and Islam. From September 2017, the new WJEC specification will be implemented in line with the national framework.
Many members of the department are qualified examiners for the WJEC and therefore have an excellent understanding of the requirements of the course.

Key Stage 5

RS is a very popular subject at A level, with many students opting to study the subject. The department thrives at both AS level and A2.  This is a measure of the success that has been achieved by the department in attracting students to study RS in the Sixth Form. From September 2016, the new WJEC specification was implemented at AS level.
Students study the following two topics:
• An Introduction to The Study of Religion
• An Introduction to Religion and Ethics and the Philosophy of Religion

The A2 course will consist of the following three topics, in line with the new WJEC exam specification:
• A Study of Religion
• Religion and Ethics
• Philosophy of Religion

The RVE department work as a collaborative team to create high quality resources that are accessible to all learners. While being accessible to all, our resources are academically stimulating and provide substantial challenge to allow students to thrive and develop.
We offer students of all abilities the opportunity to understand and experience the different belief systems, cultures and moral systems that shape the world in which they live. As a department we endeavour to integrate current media examples into our lessons in order to allow students to recognise the relevance of Religion, Values and Ethics in our current society. It is a fundamental ‘living’ subject which can provide students with a unique lens at which to view the world.