Curriculum Intent 

In Beliefs & Ethics, students are given an opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the different viewpoints on major issues in society today. Students will be given the chance to develop their ability to form well-balanced arguments that show a wide range of ideas. 

The aims and objectives of this qualification are to enable students to develop their knowledge and understanding of religions and non-religious beliefs, such as atheism and humanism, and allows students to develop their knowledge and understanding of religious beliefs, teachings and sources of wisdom and authority, including through their reading of key religious texts and scriptures of Islam and Christianity.  

This course allows students to develop their ability to construct well-argued, well-informed, balanced and structured written arguments, demonstrating their depth and breadth of understanding of the subject. Students engage with questions of belief, value, meaning, purpose, truth and their influence on human life. Students can reflect on and develop their own values, beliefs and attitudes in the light of what they have learnt and will contribute to their preparation for adult life in a pluralistic society and global community.  

Students study the Edexcel B GCSE specification and complete the course with two exams and the end of Year 11. Year 10 focuses on Christianity, whereas Year 11 focuses upon Islam. In both years, students are encouraged to compare other faiths or beliefs on the issues studied, including their own ideas and views. 

On this course, students will consider different human and religious attitudes towards a range of issues, such as: 

Year 10 Curriculum 

• Beliefs (the Trinity, incarnation, creation of the universe and of humanity, role of Christ within salvation and Christian eschatology) 

• Marriage and Family (issues of equality, prejudice and discrimination, relationships, family planning) 

• Matters of Life and death (origins of life and the world, when life begins, abortion, euthanasia and beliefs about the afterlife) 

• Living a Christian Life (how Christians worship, the importance of prayer, pilgrimage etc.) 

Year 11 Curriculum 

• Beliefs (the nature of Allah, the Six Beliefs of Islam, holy books and angels) 

• Crime and Punishment (issues around justice, treatment of prisoners, forgiveness and suffering, the death penalty) 

• Peace and conflict (pacifism, religious viewpoints and attitudes towards War and Holy War) 

• Living a Muslim Life (how Muslims worship, the 5 Pillars and obligations) 

Extra-curricular information 

Cross-curricular links  (some topics covered in Beliefs and Ethics may also be visited in other subjects, such as Crime and Punishment in Year 11 History and RE and Human Rights and Wealth & Poverty in Year 10 RE.