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28/03/24

Easter Break - wishing our students, staff and SJL community a very relaxing Easter break. We look forward to welcoming students back on Tuesday 16 April 2024 – school is closed to students on Monday 15 April due to staff INSET day. pic.twitter.com/e8kleFCzSB

28/03/24

House Points - we like to take every opportunity to recognise and celebrate the effort and achievement of students at SJL. As a result of Merit Marks, ACE Cards, Faculty Commendations and Head’s Commendations awarded throughout term, the House Points tally to date is... pic.twitter.com/WpR8tdpO9q

28/03/24

Well done to everyone taking part in our Big Challenge - Ryder are in the lead, closely followed by Newton. King have some catching up to do, so make sure to keep reading over Easter!6 of our incredible students have also achieved 💎 Diamond Award 💎 (more than 52 books!) pic.twitter.com/lfyWABG9xn

28/03/24

Well done to our trio of year 13 A level Drama students who excelled in their text exam on World Theatre Day!#theatrematters#seizetheday pic.twitter.com/bcLn9QrKyF

27/03/24

Fabulous to see our ‘Have you met…?’ event so busy today, with students displaying their interests and hobbies to staff and peers and engaging in great discussion. Well done to all those who took part. pic.twitter.com/BoEULOWtqJ

27/03/24

Some of our Sixth Form students interested in studying medicine, veterinary medicine and dentistry listened to the expertise of Devki Shah, a MedSoc consultant, who talked to students about how best to navigate the demanding application process. pic.twitter.com/U5rWv7cpJO

27/03/24

A throwback to Careers Day last week, when over 70 businesses gave employer talks and filled our sports hall to capacity for the Careers Fair. A huge thank you to everyone who took part!https://t.co/xmRh3N1FlM pic.twitter.com/RwaqwWWlZa

27/03/24

A throwback to Careers Day last week, when we welcomed over 70 businesses across the day giving employer talks and filling our sports hall to capacity for the Careers Fair. Thank you to everyone who took part!Careers Day 2024 - News - Sir John Lawes (https://t.co/DpyxjfXNBX) pic.twitter.com/tu1Nmhw8FQ

27/03/24

Day 3 in Valencia, exploring the beautiful Albufera, trying to spot cocodrilos! pic.twitter.com/UU8SG2mQQj

27/03/24

Well done to our Year 12 Enterprise team, Force 10, who raised £2400 for through a series of fundraising events. They won the most money raised and the best presentation. pic.twitter.com/1bBywleZem

26/03/24

Day 2 in Valencia visiting La ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias and the biggest aquarium in Europe pic.twitter.com/m8mxrCi2t0

26/03/24

Day 1 in Valencia. We did a Paella cooking competition, team read were the winners! pic.twitter.com/AHWcMRwjM5

26/03/24

Congratulations to Kate, Ruhani and Tsun who have been awarded Head’s Commendations for passing their Cambridge Latin Course Stage 4 Attainment test with flying colours! pic.twitter.com/KgSgpYRJgk

26/03/24

Such a brilliant evening of debating last night. Big thanks to , and St George's School for joining us and to all the students for their fantastic performances. pic.twitter.com/dHfD3NIHg9

25/03/24

Good luck to all students in our debating teams from Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10 who are taking part in an inter-school debating competition later today! pic.twitter.com/gVFDqhOjD2

25/03/24

Wishing our Year 12 art students and our Year 9 and Year 10 Spanish students a safe and memorable trip in Valencia. Have a great time! pic.twitter.com/w61y8dNCJw

25/03/24

Don't forget our School Uniform Sale after school today - 3.30pm-5.30pm in the school hall. pic.twitter.com/pRWVklZXQD

23/03/24

Last Saturday morning of the year ⚽️ 4 wins vs. Simon Balle 7s W 4-18s W 4-1 9s W 6-010s W 9-2 Thank you to all the students and parents for a brilliant football season. pic.twitter.com/IVWONzbLJ4

23/03/24

Perfect morning for Football. Thanks to all the staff who give up their free time to provide these opportunities. pic.twitter.com/zoj7NKNYQA

22/03/24

It looks like Year 7 had a fantastic day at Warwick Castle! https://t.co/NJEVG5onon

22/03/24

Some of our Year 11 German students enjoyed conversations with the Friends of Alzey who kindly came to visit to assist our students with further speaking practise ahead of their GCSE’s. pic.twitter.com/bNcN2NpEj9

22/03/24

The Second-Hand School Uniform Sale will take place on Monday 25 March from 3.30pm-5.00pm in the School Hall. All the uniform in stock has been freshly laundered and folded. Please note, card payments are preferred. pic.twitter.com/FWOYZP6pea

22/03/24

Zoo de Lunaret pic.twitter.com/zjgMRA1WSd

21/03/24

Yesterday we welcomed author Anna Mazzola who talked about becoming a writer, her creative process and publishing journey. We’re really grateful for the inspirational insights and encouragement Anna gave our students and for the copy of 'Book of Secrets'! pic.twitter.com/gf6AWccWYL

21/03/24

Year 10 drama students are studying the play 1984. To support their understanding of director and designer roles, they created model set boxes of key scenes and then used torches and coloured film gels to explore possible lighting design decisions. Brilliant creativity! pic.twitter.com/eRYBJyDUrY

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Religious Studies

About the Faculty

We are fortunate to have an experienced Religious Education team who are able to impart their expertise through a variety of engaging teaching methods. As a result, Religious Education is a popular subject at Sir John Lawes, where students are given the opportunity not only to learn about religions but also to philosophise about the world around them. We are extremely proud of both our GCSE and A Level results and continually strive to improve achievement and progress across all key stages.

Curriculum Intent Statement

In accordance with the Hertfordshire Agreed Syllabus we aim for ‘pupils develop as tolerant young people with respect and understanding of the views of others, including the beliefs and practices of religions and other world views.’ We intend to develop inquisitive learners who can confidently question religious practice and the world around them. They are able to make justified judgements in moral and ethical scenarios. 

Key Stage 3 Curriculum

At Key Stage 3 the students are taught in their planet groups and receive one lesson per week in Year 7 and two lessons per week in Year 8. We follow the Hertfordshire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education which states that pupils should learn about the six major world religions in a greater depth to what they did in Key Stage 1 and 2.

The programme of study is aimed towards contributing to pupils’ knowledge and understanding and provides opportunities for reflection on the six key areas of RE:

  • Beliefs and teachings
  • Religious practices and lifestyles
  • Ways of expressing meaning
  • Human identity, personality and experience
  • Questions of meaning and purpose
  • Values and commitments
  • Syllabus Content

In Years 7 and 8, the RE in a thematic way. Students are given a yearly theme, which continually builds their knowledge throughout the terms.

Year 7: Yearly Theme - Understanding God

In this year, students will explore the nature and concept of God, God in human form, teachings of religious figures and places of worship. Each area will help student to examine how religious people understand God. Students will be introduced to key religious terminology and encouraged to ask questions about beliefs and actions.

Year 8: Yearly Theme – Identity and Suffering

During this year, students will explore religious and personal identity, discrimination and equality in society, how religion helps people in times of need and how suffering impacts on faith and everyday life. This year aims to build on pupils understanding of God in Year 7 to draw philosophical and ethical questions surround God in times of suffering.

Students also have the opportunity to complete a variety of research projects, which allow for independent learning and creativity.

KS3 Curriculum Map

Key Stage 4 Curriculum

In Year 9, students begin in-depth study by beginning the GCSE short course. All students have the opportunity to complete a GCSE in RS that will either be Short Course (half) or Full Course (full) GCSE. If a student opts for the Full Course then they receive 3 lessons a week and if they take the Short Course route, they have one lesson per week.

The GCSE Short Course

Pupils follow AQA Religious Studies A, leading to a Short Course GCSE certificate. The syllabus covers knowledge, understanding and evaluation of issues in relation to Christianity and Islam. Over the two years students will study the following two units.

Christianity:

  • Christian Beliefs: This topic explores key elements of Christian belief including the nature of God, Jesus, Life after Death and problems around Evil and Suffering.
  • Family and Relationships: Through this topic students explore Christian and non-religious attitudes to issues of Marriage, Divorce, Sexual Relationships and Family Life.

Islam:

  • Muslim Beliefs: In this topic students develop an understanding of core Islamic beliefs on the nature of God, Life after Death, Angels and Holy Books.
  • Peace and Conflict: Peace and Conflict: Students are able to explore Islamic views on War, Holy War, Peace-making, Pacifism and Weapons of Mass destruction.

The GCSE Full Course

The GCSE Full Course studies all of the above, plus the following topics.

Christianity

  • Christian Practices: In this topic students study aspects of Christian life including Worship, Pilgrimage and the role and importance of the Church.
  • Religion and Life: Throughout this topic we explore Christian attitudes towards Sanctity of Life, Abortion, Euthanasia and Environmental issues.

Islam

  • Muslim Practices: In this topic students explore the differing Islamic views on how to live a religious life, looking at the Five Pillars, Struggle for the individual and Community and Festivals.
  • Religion, Crime and Punishment: Students have the opportunity to explore Muslim and Non- Religious views to Crime, Punishment, Good and Evil and the Death Penalty.

KS4 Curriculum Map

Key Stage 5 Curriculum

Board: OCR (H573)

This course is open to people of any religious faith or none.

An enquiring and open mind are essential ingredients when embarking on this course. Good essay writing skills will also be vital to enable you to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the issues while sustaining an argument.

Assessment

General lesson activities will include debates, essay writing, examining current moral issues, student seminars and visiting speakers.

Students will sit 3 papers of equal weighting. Each paper will be 2 hours in length.

Course content

At Advanced level this subject examines religious philosophy and ethical issues.

The course will include units studying:

Philosophy of Religion

  • Ancient philosophical influences
  • The nature of the soul, mind and body Arguments about the existence or non-existence of God
  • The nature and impact of religious experience
  • The challenge for religious belief of the problem of evil
  • Ideas about the nature of God
  • Issues in religious language

Religion and Ethics

  • Normative ethical theories
  • The application of ethical theory to Business Ethics and Euthanasia
  • Ethical language and thought
  • Debates surrounding the significant idea of conscience
  • Sexual ethics and the influence on ethical thought of developments in religious beliefs

Development in Religious Thought (Christianity)

  • Religious beliefs, values and teachings, their interconnections and how they vary historically and in the contemporary world
  • Sources of religious wisdom and authority
  • Practices which shape and express religious identity, and how these vary within a tradition
  • Significant social and historical developments in theology and religious thought
  • Key themes related to the relationship between religion and society

Entry requirements

We would expect you to achieve a grade 6 or above in GCSE RS (Short Course or Full Course) or a grade 6 or above in GCSE English. All students must have an APS of 4.5 or above. The ability to retain an open mind will also be useful.

Core Enrichment RE

Through Core Enrichment lessons, students in Years 12 and 13 have the opportunity to engage with religious, philosophical and ethical issues.

KS5 Curriculum Map

Marking Policy

Extended Curriculum

The school has strong links with different groups in the community, which allows students to ask questions directly to specific religious people, and helps them to see religion outside of the classroom. We try to give our students the opportunity to visit religious places of worship. This includes a trip to the Swarminarayan Mandir (a Hindu temple) in Year 7, London Central Mosque and Harpenden Oval in Year 10. We also, offer a residential as part of our GCSE Full Course. We also have members from STEP who come in to school and deliver lessons to all key stages, providing students with the opportunity to ask questions about faith and Christian worship. STEP also provide a lunch time drop in session for students where they explore the Christian faith in a fun and informal way.

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