Putney High School
Religious Studies
“A life that is not examined is not worth living.” (Socrates)Why choose Religious Studies?
Religious Studies is taught as an academic subject aiming to ensure that all students leave Putney able to understand and evaluate their own religious beliefs and those of those they meet combined with a particular ability to consider the texts, philosophical assumptions and influence of Christianity.
Through looking at all of the major faith traditions using art, discussion, story, trips to places of worship, rites of passage, belief, philosophy and attitudes, students can examine many of the ‘big questions’ of life and express and evaluate their own answers to these. In equipping students to live and work in multi-cultural societies, the Year 9 trip to Southall is a particular highlight.
Well respected qualifications and beyond
GCSE
At GCSE level AQA Specification A is offered (Papers 1C and 2A) as a subject choice. This enables students to engage with questions concerning a religious text and many moral and philosophical dilemmas. (See http://www.aqa.org.uk/qual/pdf/AQA-3061-3066-W-SP-09.PDF for more details.)
AS and A Level
At AS and A2 level the Edexcel course (Units 3b and 4c) is offered. To take this course students do not have to have taken GCSE. The units taken consider issues raised by the claim that a religious ethic is possible and look at some early Christian texts. (See http://www.edexcel.org.uk/VirtualContent/25885.pdf for more details.)
Students from Putney High often choose to study Theology, Religious Studies or Philosophy at university and all courses highly respect the analytical, discursive and questioning skills that the subject fosters.
