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This will of course be dependant on your Locally Agreed or Diocesan syllabus (or other arrangements if you are a Foundation School or Academy) but the recommendations of the New Secondary Curriculum are:

  • Christianity:
    • This should include Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, non-conformist and Pentecostal branches of Christianity both in the UK and abroad
  • At least two other principal religions:
    • These include: Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and Sikhism. By the end of KS3 all these should have been studies in sufficient depth. Baha'i, Jain and Zoroastrian faiths may also be studied
  • A religious community of local significance: [where appropriate]
    • This may be included to give a local focus to the study of how religion and belief impact on individuals, families and the community
  • A secular world view: [where appropriate]
    • This includes secular philosophies such as humanism

So you need to map your curriculum against these to ensure that you are 'ticking these boxes'

All the above could be taught through the following themes:

  • beliefs and concepts: the key ideas and questions of meaning in religions and beliefs, including issues related to God, truth, the world, human life, and life after death
  • authority: different sources of authority and how they inform believers’ lives
  • religion and science: issues of truth, explanation, meaning and purpose
    • This could be looking at where scientific world views conflict or complement
  • expressing spirituality: how and why understanding of the self and human experiences is expressed in a variety of forms
    • This could include expressions of human suffering such as genocide or the holocaust and how people use faith to make meaning in very difficult circumstances
  • ethics and relationships: questions and influences that inform ethical and moral choices, including forgiveness and issues of good and evil
  • rights and responsibilities: what religions and beliefs say about human rights and responsibilities, social justice and citizenship
  • global issues: what religions and beliefs say about health, wealth, war, animal rights and the environment
  • interfaith dialogue: a study of relationships, conflicts and collaboration within and between religions and beliefs.
    • This could be difference and similarities between religions of strands within a religion in doctrine, worship or practice. Or differences between secular and religious viewpoints on family, relationships, sexuality, economics and pluralism.
The text on this page is taken from the QCA website on the new secondary curriculum and copyrighted to them