In Year 7 students first study Community and realise they belong to many communities from their family in Stevenage to the cosmos learning that ultimately we are all stardust. They study an exciting range of religious and cultural beliefs taught through philosophical discussion in which students are encouraged to formulate their own opinions. We visit the local mosque to enjoy experiential learning and students make cross curricular links, understanding connections between Geography, History and RE and associated skills. In year 8 students study Slavery, Rites of Passage, and Hinduism that involves an exciting and spiritual trip to a Hindu temple.
All students in Years 7-9 follow the course set by the local Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) and learn to appreciate amazing similarities and fascinating differences in the six major world religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism. In Years 10 and 11 students follow either a short or full course GCSE and achievement is regularly high. In the sixth form we offer three study sessions, each with a keynote speaker, on a contemporary moral issue chosen by students. Recent topics proposed are mental health, homosexuality, and wealth and poverty, the latter involving a voluntary sleep-out.
Parents have the right under the 1988 Act to withdraw students from assembly and RE. Letters on this matter should be addressed to the head teacher. In this unlikely event students undertake private study in the RE classroom. No student has been withdrawn for many years.
