Senior Religious Studies

Section A - Study of Religions.

Students are required to examine key beliefs in Judaism and Christianity and understand reasons for divergent views and traditions in both religions.

Section B - Thematic Studies: Religious, Philosophical and Ethical studies. Theme A: Relationships and Families

Students should study religious teachings, and religious, philosophical and ethical arguments, relating to the issues that follow, and their impact and influence in the modern world. They should be aware of contrasting perspectives in contemporary British society on all of these issues. They must be able to explain contrasting beliefs on the following three issues with reference to the main religious tradition in Britain (Christianity) and a second religion (Judaism) as well as secular (non-religious) responses.

• Contraception.
• Sexual relationships before marriage.
• Homosexual relationships.

Sex, marriage and divorce

• Human sexuality including: heterosexual and homosexual relationships.
• Sexual relationships before and outside of marriage.
• Contraception and family planning.
• The nature and purpose of marriage.
• Same-sex marriage and cohabitation.
• Divorce, including reasons for divorce, and remarrying.
• Ethical arguments related to divorce, including those based on the sanctity of marriage vows and compassion.

Families and gender equality

The nature of families, including:

• the role of parents and children
• extended families and the nuclear family.
• The purpose of families, including:
• procreation
• stability and the protection of children
• educating children in a faith.
• Contemporary family issues including:
• same-sex parents
• polygamy.
• The roles of men and women.
• Gender equality.
• Gender prejudice and discrimination, including examples.

Theme B: Religion, Peace and Conflict

Students should study religious teachings, and religious, philosophical and ethical arguments, relating to the issues that follow, and their impact and influence in the modern world. They should be aware of contrasting perspectives in contemporary British society on all of these issues. On the following three issues they must be able to explain a belief from the main religious tradition in Britain (Christianity) and also from Judaism and a secular ideology.

• Violence.
• Weapons of mass destruction.
• Pacifism.

Religion, violence, terrorism and war

The meaning and significance of:

• peace
• justice
• forgiveness
• reconciliation.
• Violence, including violent protest.
• Terrorism.
• Reasons for war, including greed, self-defence and retaliation.
• The just war theory, including the criteria for a just war.
• Holy war.
• Pacifism.

Religion and belief in 21st century conflict

• Religion and belief as a cause of war and violence in the contemporary world.
• Nuclear weapons, including nuclear deterrence.
• The use of weapons of mass destruction.
• Religion and peace-making in the contemporary world including the work of individuals influenced by religious teaching.
• Religious responses to the victims of war including the work of one present day religious organisation.

Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes at the end of Year 11
96 marks, plus 6 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG)
100% of GCSE Short course

Section A: Study of Religions - Judaism & Christianity

• Students answer questions on two religions.
• The questions within each religion have a common structure made up of five-part questions of 1, 2, 4, 5 and 12 marks.

Section B: Thematic Studies: religious, philosophical and ethical studies

Theme A: Relationships and families

Theme B: Religion, peace and conflict

• Students answer questions on both themes.
• The questions within each theme have a common structure made up of five-part questions of 1, 2, 4, 5 and 12 marks.

All questions are marked out of 24.

Religious Studies GCSE Exam Specification