Religious Education Curriculum Intent

Religious Education is at the core of the curriculum at Cardinal Heenan. We are committed to supporting students at whatever stage they might be on their faith journey. We strive to help students achieve their full potential as human beings.

We believe it is essential that all students should have an appreciation of the religious and spiritual dimension of life. We aim to encourage awareness and appreciation of the pupils’ own worth and that of others and also to respect the rights of other people who have beliefs which are different to their own. As a Catholic community it is our duty to deepen the knowledge and understanding of Catholic faith and make known the Person of Jesus Christ. We also learn about other religious traditions and enable young people to explore their own story, experiences, personal beliefs and that of others whatever their faith background.

RE is also an academic subject and pupils are expected to develop skills of research, thinking, reasoning, communication and co-operation. We therefore strive to help to develop these skills for further academic study.

We offer a range of activities outside of the classroom which we hope will inspire and increase enjoyment in the subject, e.g. pilgrimages, retreats, guest speakers, visits to places of worship.
All students at Cardinal Heenan study GCSE Religious Education. The course content aims to develop knowledge, skills and understanding of religion. We explore the significance and impact of beliefs, teachings, sources, textual study, practices and ways of life. RE lessons also give students the opportunities to express personal responses to the big questions in life, such as “Who am I?” “What happens when I die?” “What is the meaning of life?” “How can I develop a relationship with God?”
In the future, what students have explored in RE will give them the resilience and knowledge to face the challenges of life with confidence.

All students study Religious Education which forms part of the core curriculum. The course leads to GCSE certification in Religious Studies. The department motivates students by lively, interesting activities. Members of the local community provide an input whenever possible.

Religious Studies GCSE