Religion and Worldviews (RW)
Back to Subjects MenuWhat is the Intent of the RW Curriculum?
“The principle aim of RE is to engage students in systematic enquiry into significant human questions which religion and worldviews address, so they can develop the understanding and skills needed to appreciate and appraise varied responses to these questions, as well as developed responses of their own.”
The Kent Agreed Syllabus (KAS) divides this principle aim into three smaller aims. RE teaching should enable pupils to:
A. Know about and understand a range of religions and worldviews.
B. Express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religions and worldviews.
C. Gain and deploy the disciplinary skills needed to engage seriously with religions and worldviews.
Learning about religions and worldviews gets to the heart of what it means to be human. It is a vital part of students’ spiritual, moral and social education as well as playing a role in developing critical thinking. Learning about the beliefs and cultures of others through the study of RW helps to foster a culture of tolerance and inclusion, which is vital for students to thrive in the modern world.
The RW curriculum is designed for students to understand the development of worldviews over time as well as the lived experiences today. In year 7, students study the driving concepts of the Abrahamic religions, and in year 8 students study the driving concepts of the Dharmic religions. Students will understand how over time and through culture these concepts have been developed and shaped into the world religions we see today. This approach enables students to understand the similarities but distinctions between religions. In Year 9, students take this foundational knowledge and apply it to areas of philosophy, including moral philosophy and arguments around the existence of God. There is an interdisciplinary approach to the curriculum which develops our students’ understanding and skills of theology, philosophy and social sciences over the three years of KS3 so students may properly understand and engage in the study of religion and worldviews.
Legal requirements
It is a legal requirement that RE is provided for all registered pupils in state-funded schools in England, unless withdrawn by their parents. It is a necessary part of a broad and balanced curriculum. Unlike other subjects, there is no National Curriculum for RE. Rather, a locally agreed syllabus for RE is determined by a local Standing Advisory Council for RE (SACRE). Academies must adopt a syllabus for RE or produce their own which meets the requirements of the locally agreed syllabus. The Marsh Academy has adopted the Kent Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education for KS3 RW, and follows Edexcel B for GCSE for students who chose this as an option subject.
