Beliefs and Values
Vision:
“We teach you how to think, not what to think”
The BV team at Okehampton College are passionate about inspiring students to become critical thinkers and preparing them to be global citizens of the twenty first century. In an ever increasing global society pupils are encouraged to master the skills and knowledge to be a success in all cultures and environments. Pupils are encouraged to reflect individually on their own ideas and ways of living when exploring numerous worldviews, ethical issues and philosophical enquiry. To investigate what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live, enables students to gain the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to handle the questions raised by religion. Ultimately, students at Okehampton College will learn the importance of living in a society in which people understand and respect the beliefs and values of others.
“We teach you how to think, not what to think”
The BV team at Okehampton College are passionate about inspiring students to become critical thinkers and preparing them to be global citizens of the twenty first century. In an ever increasing global society pupils are encouraged to master the skills and knowledge to be a success in all cultures and environments. Pupils are encouraged to reflect individually on their own ideas and ways of living when exploring numerous worldviews, ethical issues and philosophical enquiry. To investigate what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live, enables students to gain the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to handle the questions raised by religion. Ultimately, students at Okehampton College will learn the importance of living in a society in which people understand and respect the beliefs and values of others.
Resources and routes:
Beliefs and Values is taught by a team of three specialist teachers at KS3 and a team of five humanities specialists at KS4 all bringing their own unique contribution to the subject. At KS3 teachers are guided by a curriculum plan that has been produced with guidance from the Devon Agreed Syllabus and at KS4 the compulsory AQA Religious Studies A Christianity and Buddhism course is followed. We are proud that we have been so successful at delivering this GCSE to the whole cohort. During lessons teachers allow time for students to actively engage and express themselves in discussion and debate. At both KS3 and KS4 all pupils receive one hour a week of Beliefs and Values. At A’Level we offer two popular options: Philosophy and Ethics (OCR) and Sociology (AQA) where pupils receive 4 hours a week and taught by three specialist teachers.
Beliefs and Values is taught by a team of three specialist teachers at KS3 and a team of five humanities specialists at KS4 all bringing their own unique contribution to the subject. At KS3 teachers are guided by a curriculum plan that has been produced with guidance from the Devon Agreed Syllabus and at KS4 the compulsory AQA Religious Studies A Christianity and Buddhism course is followed. We are proud that we have been so successful at delivering this GCSE to the whole cohort. During lessons teachers allow time for students to actively engage and express themselves in discussion and debate. At both KS3 and KS4 all pupils receive one hour a week of Beliefs and Values. At A’Level we offer two popular options: Philosophy and Ethics (OCR) and Sociology (AQA) where pupils receive 4 hours a week and taught by three specialist teachers.
Extra-curricular opportunities:
Beliefs and Values is a vibrant subject where pupils benefit from many extra-curricular opportunities. In year 7 pupils experience a Beliefs and Values day where they can listen to outside speakers from a variety of faith backgrounds and partake in activities like Indian dance and making a curry in a Sikh food workshop. Year 7 also partake in a trip to Simmons Park to reflect on their spirituality. In year 8 there is a trip to Exeter Synagogue and Mosque and in year 9 to the local church to learn about Christianity in the local community. In year 10 vicars from different denominations within the Christian faith visit the college to perform a mock wedding to compliment the relationships unit of the GCSE. Pupils also have the opportunity to go to Poland in year 9 and visit Auschwitz concentration camp to learn about the holocaust which helps prepare them for many topics within the GCSE especially the human rights and social justice unit at GCSE.
Beliefs and Values is a vibrant subject where pupils benefit from many extra-curricular opportunities. In year 7 pupils experience a Beliefs and Values day where they can listen to outside speakers from a variety of faith backgrounds and partake in activities like Indian dance and making a curry in a Sikh food workshop. Year 7 also partake in a trip to Simmons Park to reflect on their spirituality. In year 8 there is a trip to Exeter Synagogue and Mosque and in year 9 to the local church to learn about Christianity in the local community. In year 10 vicars from different denominations within the Christian faith visit the college to perform a mock wedding to compliment the relationships unit of the GCSE. Pupils also have the opportunity to go to Poland in year 9 and visit Auschwitz concentration camp to learn about the holocaust which helps prepare them for many topics within the GCSE especially the human rights and social justice unit at GCSE.
Assessment:
In Key Stage 3, students are assessed at the end of each unit, typically four times per year. The assessments take the form of multiple-choice questions alongside some longer exam-style questions. Feedback is highly valued within the Humanities Faculty. Following each assessment, results will be given with a dedicated lesson providing in-depth feedback so that students can reflect, improve their knowledge, skills and confidence in completing assessments. Results of these assessments are sent home to parents/guardians three times per year.
In Key Stage 4, students complete end of unit assessments typically four times per year. These are normally sections of past papers or are teacher-written assessment based on the exam. GCSE students will also sit two ‘mocks’ per year, which are larger papers and are designed to give students the experience of sitting a full paper. Like in Key Stage 3, our feedback lessons are taken very seriously, and students are encouraged to annotate their papers and set targets for improvement.
In Key Stage 3, students are assessed at the end of each unit, typically four times per year. The assessments take the form of multiple-choice questions alongside some longer exam-style questions. Feedback is highly valued within the Humanities Faculty. Following each assessment, results will be given with a dedicated lesson providing in-depth feedback so that students can reflect, improve their knowledge, skills and confidence in completing assessments. Results of these assessments are sent home to parents/guardians three times per year.
In Key Stage 4, students complete end of unit assessments typically four times per year. These are normally sections of past papers or are teacher-written assessment based on the exam. GCSE students will also sit two ‘mocks’ per year, which are larger papers and are designed to give students the experience of sitting a full paper. Like in Key Stage 3, our feedback lessons are taken very seriously, and students are encouraged to annotate their papers and set targets for improvement.
Programme of Study: Key Stage 3
- Year 7: Autumn Term, Beliefs and Concepts, Citizenship – The Island; Spring Term, Rights and Responsibilities; Summer Term, How do people show their spirituality?
- Year 8: Autumn Term, Religion and Young People; Spring Term, Global Issues, Religious Stereotypes – Islam [Who are Muslims?]; Summer Term, Ultimate Questions – Religion and Science.
- Year 9 GCSE Religious Studies AQA A: All students study for a full course GCSE: this enables them to express their own personal responses to fundamental questions and issues as well as showing knowledge of religious views. The subject is examined by two examinations in year 11.
- Year 9 topics - Christian Beliefs, Buddhist Beliefs, Christian Practices and Buddhist Practices.
Programme of Study: Key Stage 4 - Year 10 and 11
Religion, peace and conflict; Religion, crime and punishment; Religion, human rights and social justice; Relationships and families; Buddhist practices.
Programme of Study: Key Stage 5
A Level Religious Studies – Philosophy and Ethics
- Philosophy of Religion: Ancient philosophical influences; Arguments about the existence or non-existence of God; The nature and impact of religious experience; The challenge for religious belief of the problem of evil; Ideas about the nature of God; Issues in religious language.
- Religious Ethics: Ethical theories - Situation Ethics, Kant, Natural Law, Utilitarianism, Absolutism and Relativism; Applied Ethics – Euthanasia; Business Ethics; Sexual Ethics; Ethical Language and Thought; Debates surrounding the significant idea of conscience.
