St Mary's School Calne

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Why Choose St Mary's?

Religious Studies

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The Buddhist Meditation Centre'I am open to receive, with every breath I breathe.' - Unknown

Religious Studies is a rigorous academic study, yet it has to deal with personal, spiritual and moral questions that face all human beings. It seeks to engender mutual tolerance, understanding, openness and an appreciation of diversity. Religious Studies deals with the 'deeper' issues of life and helps pupils become more thinking, sensitive but yet critical individuals.

However, it does not mean that Religious Studies is only about academic learning in the classroom. In order to make their classroom experience and learning more relevant and practical, we have created various opportunities for the students. A cultural link with a Korean school has been established – in fact, one of our students is going to be in this school for her GAP year. Various school trips have been organised such as a trip to South Korea and London Trail (visiting different religious worship places). A Film Society also provides cultural awareness of other countries. Religious Studies is about experiencing differences and is full of excitement if you open your mind to the studies.

Summary of Religious Studies in each year group

Keystage 3

The following topics are studied:

  • L4 - Christianity and Buddhism
  • M4 - Old Testament, Judaism and the Holocaust
  • U4 - Islam, ‘Writing an argumentative essay’ and ‘Examine philosophical arguments for/against the existence of God’

GCSE

LV Form - from September 2007 - OCR GCSE in Religious Studies: Short Course (1031) and Full Course (1931). Students are studying ‘Philosophy’ and ‘Ethics’. There are two, two hour examination papers for Full Course and one two hour paper for the Short Course. There is no coursework element in GCSE Religious Studies.

UV Form - continuing with OCR GCSE in Religious Studies A: Short course (1030) and Full course (1930). Students are studying ‘Gospel of Luke’ and ‘Christian Perspectives’. There are two one hour examinations for the Short Course and the Full Course has two one and a half hour examinations with two pieces of coursework to be completed.

AS and A Level

At this level, our students embark on a Philosophy and Ethics course. Logic and reasoning take over from personal perspectives and practices. The Examination Board is OCR (AS 3877 and A2 7877). At the end of the LVI Form (Year12) and the UVI Form (Year13), students sit three one-hour examinations and three one and a half hour examinations respectively.

'Life is like riding a bicycle. You don’t fall off unless you stop pedalling'. Claude Pepper, former US Congressman.

The photograph shows members of LIVE visiting the Meditation Hall at the International Buddhist Meditation Centre in Heddington.

Mr Y Dho