Academic | Religious Studies

Pupils at Aysgarth should understand the effect of religion on our society. The pupils should respect religious rights and be able to empathise with those people who choose to worship, whatever their religion or culture. Aysgarth is a Christian school that operates 6 chapel services a week. The Christian ethos is supported in the Religious Studies syllabus and reflected in the majority of lessons that the pupils undertake. The chapel readings include Biblical texts that are required study for the ISEB syllabus so that pupils get further exposure to work they should know for Common Entrance.

It is important that children understand the role that religion plays in the lives of people and the cultures and traditions of Great Britain and other countries. At Aysgarth we aim to prepare pupils to sit the Common Entrance Religious Studies Examination in their final year at the school. With the advent of the new ISEB syllabus we have been presented with a five year programme that allows little flexibility with regard to what the pupils should learn. Therefore the aims of Religious Studies are:

a) To read in an accessible form forty Bible stories which inform much of western culture as well as three major world religions.

b) To explore, by means of a deeper study of selected Bible passages,

  • questions of morality and the values of contemporary society
  • ultimate meaning
  • spiritual awareness

c) To make a preliminary study of the six major world religions

d) To develop a mature, respectful and responsible attitude towards the rights of religious worship.

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