Year 7
Autumn Term 1
Why are we here?
Key Disciplines:
Philosophy and Ethics
Ethos links
Milton Keynes
Character – RRK.
STEM & sustainability links.
Knowledge
- Meaning of life.
- Introduction to Philosophy.
- Linking to stewardship/ dominion, school/ MK link – caring for local environment.
Key Skills
- Knowledge and understanding. Enquiry, explanation, evaluation and analysis.
- Questioning, thinking, reasoning and making judgements, creating and innovating.
- Using scripture to support reasoning.
- Developing writing skills, using evidence and explanation to support arguments.
Assessment
- Verbal and written questioning.
- Continual knowledge and skills checks throughout the topic.
- Developing supported explanations.
- End of topic assessments.
- End of year exam (May) focusing on the topics completed up to that point, assessing knowledge and skills that we have developed across the year.
Autumn Term 2 & Spring Term 1
Judaism – Should we always keep a promise?
Key Disciplines:
Theology, History, Sociology and Textual Study
Ethos links
Character – respect, responsibility and kindness.
Community/ Milton Keynes
Knowledge
- Theme of covenant.
- Adam and Eve – nature of G-d, relationship with humanity, Shabbat.
- Noah – monotheism.
- Abraham – monotheism, Shema.
- Moses – Decalogue, mitzvot, Kosher.
Key Skills
- Knowledge and understanding. Enquiry, explanation, evaluation and analysis.
- Questioning, thinking, reasoning and making judgements, creating and innovating.
- Using scripture to support reasoning.
- Developing writing skills, using evidence and explanation to support arguments.
Assessment
- Verbal and written questioning.
- Continual knowledge and skills checks throughout the topic.
- Developing supported explanations.
- End of topic assessments.
- End of year exam (May) focusing on the topics completed up to that point, assessing knowledge and skills that we have developed across the year.
Spring Term 2 & Summer Term 1
Christianity – Who was Jesus?
Key Disciplines:
Theology, History, Sociology, Ethics and Textual Study
Ethos links
Character – respect, responsibility and kindness.
Community/ Milton Keynes
Knowledge
- Focus on the life of Jesus.
- Birth, miracles, parables, death, resurrection. How can these be interpreted? Man or God? Moral teacher or lawbreaker? Messiah?
Key Skills
- Knowledge and understanding. Enquiry, explanation, evaluation and analysis.
- Questioning, thinking, reasoning and making judgements, creating and innovating.
- Using scripture to support reasoning.
- Developing writing skills, using evidence and explanation to support arguments.
Assessment
- Verbal and written questioning.
- Continual knowledge and skills checks throughout the topic.
- Developing supported explanations.
- End of topic assessments.
- End of year exam (May) focusing on the topics completed up to that point, assessing knowledge and skills that we have developed across the year.
Summer Term 2
Science and religion – Do religion and science have to always conflict?
Key Disciplines:
Theology, Sociology and Philosophy
Ethos links
STEM – links with scientific theories and contrasting them with religious viewpoints.
Knowledge
- Contrast between scientific ideas about the world and religious perspectives.
- Focus on Big Bang, Evolution and miracles.
Key Skills
- Knowledge and understanding. Enquiry, explanation, evaluation and analysis.
- Questioning, thinking, reasoning and making judgements, creating and innovating.
- Using scripture to support reasoning.
- Developing writing skills, using evidence and explanation to support arguments.
Assessment
- Verbal and written questioning.
- Continual knowledge and skills checks throughout the topic.
- Developing supported explanations.
- End of topic assessments.
- End of year exam (May) focusing on the topics completed up to that point, assessing knowledge and skills that we have developed across the year.
Year 8
Autumn Term 1 & 2
Islam – How do Muslims express their faith?
Key Disciplines:
Theology, Ethics and Textual Study
Ethos links
Character – Responsibility, respect, and kindness.
Knowledge
- Meaning of Islam, focus on faith.
- Abrahamic religions – chance to link to Y7 learning.
- Nature of Allah for Muslims.
- Influence of the Qur’an today.
- Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), 5 pillars & Islamic art.
Key Skills
- Knowledge and understanding. Enquiry, explanation, evaluation and analysis.
- Questioning, thinking, reasoning and making reasoned and informed judgements.
- Creating and innovating.
- Religious comparisons. Making links and applying knowledge.
- Using scripture to support reasoning.
- Developing writing skills, using evidence and explanation to support arguments.
Assessment
- Verbal and written questioning.
- Continual knowledge and skills checks throughout the topic.
- Developing supported explanations.
- End of topic assessments.
- End of year exam (May) focusing on the topics completed up to that point, assessing knowledge and skills that we have developed across the year.
Spring Term 1
Philosophy – Are we truly free?
Key Disciplines:
Philosophy
Ethos links
Character – Responsibility, respect, and kindness.
Knowledge
- Plato’s Cave, what is reality?
- Descartes.
- Body vs mind.
- Challenging ideas and stretching thinking.
Key Skills
- Knowledge and understanding. Enquiry, explanation, evaluation and analysis.
- Questioning, thinking, reasoning and making reasoned and informed judgements.
- Creating and innovating.
- Religious comparisons. Making links and applying knowledge.
- Using scripture to support reasoning.
- Developing writing skills, using evidence and explanation to support arguments.
Assessment
- Verbal and written questioning.
- Continual knowledge and skills checks throughout the topic.
- Developing supported explanations.
- End of topic assessments.
- End of year exam (May) focusing on the topics completed up to that point, assessing knowledge and skills that we have developed across the year.
Spring Term 2 & Summer Term 1
Buddhism – Is all life suffering?
Key Disciplines:
Theology, Application of Scripture, Philosophy and Ethics
Ethos links
STEM – ethics and science, critical thinking skills.
Sustainability – environmental ethics.
Character – Respect.
Knowledge
- Story of Siddhartha Gautama.
- Life as a prince, 4 sights, renunciation, asceticism, enlightenment, teachings.
- Using these teachings to explore evil and suffering – how can we all apply these key principles?
Key Skills
- Knowledge and understanding. Enquiry, explanation, evaluation and analysis.
- Questioning, thinking, reasoning and making reasoned and informed judgements.
- Creating and innovating.
- Religious comparisons. Making links and applying knowledge.
- Using scripture to support reasoning.
- Developing writing skills, using evidence and explanation to support arguments.
Assessment
- Verbal and written questioning.
- Continual knowledge and skills checks throughout the topic.
- Developing supported explanations.
- End of topic assessments.
- End of year exam (May) focusing on the topics completed up to that point, assessing knowledge and skills that we have developed across the year.
Summer Term 2
Life After Death – Is death the end?
Key Disciplines:
Sociology, Theology
Ethos links
STEM – contrasting religious and scientific ideas.
Knowledge
- Comparing/ contrasting ideas about life after death from the religions studied so far, with scientific views.
Key Skills
- Knowledge and understanding. Enquiry, explanation, evaluation and analysis.
- Questioning, thinking, reasoning and making reasoned and informed judgements.
- Creating and innovating.
- Religious comparisons. Making links and applying knowledge.
- Using scripture to support reasoning.
- Developing writing skills, using evidence and explanation to support arguments.
Assessment
- Verbal and written questioning.
- Continual knowledge and skills checks throughout the topic.
- Developing supported explanations.
- End of topic assessments.
- End of year exam (May) focusing on the topics completed up to that point, assessing knowledge and skills that we have developed across the year.
Year 9
Autumn Term 1 & 2
Sikhism – Why should we promote equality?
Key Disciplines:
Theology, Ethics and Textual Study
Ethos links
Character – Responsibility, respect, and kindness.
Knowledge
- Story of the Gurus, leading to Guru Granth Sahib.
- Story of Malik Bhago and Lalo.
- Sewa.
- Identity & 5Ks.
- Worship = Gurdwara and langar.
- Focus on equality and honour.
Key Skills
- Knowledge and understanding. Enquiry, explanation, evaluation and analysis.
- Questioning, thinking, reasoning and making reasoned and informed judgements.
- Creating and innovating.
- Religious comparisons. Making links and applying knowledge.
- Using scripture to support reasoning.
- Developing writing skills, using evidence and explanation to support arguments.
Assessment
- Verbal and written questioning.
- Continual knowledge and skills checks throughout the topic.
- Developing supported explanations.
- End of topic assessments.
- End of year exam (May) focusing on the topics completed up to that point, assessing knowledge and skills that we have developed across the year.
Spring Term 1
Ethics – Is it ever right to fight?
Key Disciplines:
Philosophy
Ethos links
Character – Responsibility, respect, and kindness.
Knowledge
- Pacifism, Just War, nuclear weapons/ WMD, religious teachings about peace/ conflict.
Key Skills
- Knowledge and understanding. Enquiry, explanation, evaluation and analysis.
- Questioning, thinking, reasoning and making reasoned and informed judgements.
- Creating and innovating.
- Religious comparisons. Making links and applying knowledge.
- Using scripture to support reasoning.
- Developing writing skills, using evidence and explanation to support arguments.
Assessment
- Verbal and written questioning.
- Continual knowledge and skills checks throughout the topic.
- Developing supported explanations.
- End of topic assessments.
- End of year exam (May) focusing on the topics completed up to that point, assessing knowledge and skills that we have developed across the year.
Spring Term 2 & Summer Term 1
New Religious Movements – What counts as a ‘religion’?
Key Disciplines:
Theology, Application of Scripture, Philosophy and Ethics
Ethos links
STEM – ethics and science, critical thinking skills.
Character – Respect for different opinions and viewpoints.
Knowledge
- Focus upon the foundations and core beliefs of the Illuminati, Scientology, Rastafarianism, Humanism, Ethical Veganism.
- What constitutes a religion?
- How does a cult differ from a religion?
- Ninian Smart’s 7 dimensions of religion.
Key Skills
- Knowledge and understanding. Enquiry, explanation, evaluation and analysis.
- Questioning, thinking, reasoning and making reasoned and informed judgements.
- Creating and innovating.
- Religious comparisons. Making links and applying knowledge.
- Using scripture to support reasoning.
- Developing writing skills, using evidence and explanation to support arguments.
Assessment
- Verbal and written questioning.
- Continual knowledge and skills checks throughout the topic.
- Developing supported explanations.
- End of topic assessments.
- End of year exam (May) focusing on the topics completed up to that point, assessing knowledge and skills that we have developed across the year.
Summer Term 2
Sociology – Should the media be banned from talking about religions?
Key Disciplines:
Sociology, Theology
Ethos links
Character – Responsibility, respect, and kindness.
Knowledge
- Impact of media upon perceptions and stereotypes.
- Prejudice and discrimination, eg) Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, etc.
Key Skills
- Knowledge and understanding. Enquiry, explanation, evaluation and analysis.
- Questioning, thinking, reasoning and making reasoned and informed judgements.
- Creating and innovating.
- Religious comparisons. Making links and applying knowledge.
- Using scripture to support reasoning.
- Developing writing skills, using evidence and explanation to support arguments.
Assessment
- Verbal and written questioning.
- Continual knowledge and skills checks throughout the topic.
- Developing supported explanations.
- End of topic assessments.
- End of year exam (May) focusing on the topics completed up to that point, assessing knowledge and skills that we have developed across the year.
