Philosophy, Religion and Ethics

Philosophy, Religion & Ethics at Hertswood aims to teach students about diverse lifestyles and world views. We encourage students to develop their own views; to speak and write articulately about their own backgrounds and experiences. Our department adopts a multi-faith, non-denominational approach to PRE in which students learn about the major world faiths, including Christianity and Buddhism (which are studied in more depth in the GCSE course).

Key Stage 3

In Key Stage 3, PRE aims to develop characteristics and key skills that help prepare all students for dealing with life: raising awareness of other faiths, establishing a sense of identity, developing open and enquiring minds and encouraging empathy with others.

Key Stage 4

At Key Stage 4, students study AQA GCSE RE as a full course. Skills they can develop in PRE are extremely helpful once they leave school.  Being able to express opinions clearly, being able to discuss and debate in a reasoned way, and improved writing skills, are all important whether students decide to go to college, university or start employment.  Through studying GCSE Religious Studies, students encounter a wide range of concepts allowing them to confidently interpret, contextualise and analyse the expressions of religions and world views they encounter.

Independent Learning Resources

• The Knowledge
• Quizlet
• Seneca Learning
• Textbooks and revision guides created by the exam boards (AQA for GCSE)