St Peter's RC High School and Sixth Form Centre

Religious Education

Religious Education at KS3, KS4 and KS5 provides a rigorous, knowledge‑rich curriculum rooted in the Catholic tradition and informed by Catholic Social Teaching (CST). Students engage critically with religious, philosophical and ethical ideas, developing religious literacy, evaluative skills, and an appreciation of human dignity, social justice, and the common good. The curriculum promotes intellectual curiosity, moral reasoning, and respectful dialogue, equipping students to participate thoughtfully in a plural and democratic society.

pdf SPHS General RE Programme 2025-26(246 KB)

 

Curriculum Overview by Year Group and Term

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
Creation and Covenant – God’s Revelation
What does the Bible teach about God and creation? How do faith and science relate?
Prophecy and Promise – The Word of God
How does God speak through Scripture? What is revelation?
Galilee to Jerusalem – Jesus the Incarnate Word
Who is Jesus and how is He the model of holiness?
Desert to Garden – The Paschal Mystery
How do Catholics celebrate the Paschal Mystery?
To the Ends of the Earth – The Holy Spirit
What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the Church?
Dialogue and Encounter – Faith and Unity
How does the Church work with other faiths?

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
Creation and Covenant – Faith and Freedom
What does freedom mean in Catholic teaching?
Prophecy and Promise – The Call to Holiness
How does God call His people?
Galilee to Jerusalem – Jesus and the Marginalised
How does Jesus reveal the Kingdom of God today?
Desert to Garden – Suffering and Hope
How can suffering lead to redemption?
To the Ends of the Earth – Resurrection and Life After Death
What does the Resurrection mean for Christians?
Dialogue and Encounter – Understanding Islam
What do Catholics share with Muslims in faith and practice?

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
Creation and Covenant – Human Dignity
Why is human life sacred?
Prophecy and Promise – Mary and Discipleship
How does Mary reveal God’s love?
Galilee to Jerusalem – Call to Discipleship
What does it mean to follow Christ today?
Desert to Garden – Covenant and Redemption
How is the Old Covenant fulfilled in Christ?
To the Ends of the Earth – Communion of Saints
What does the Church teach about life after death?
Dialogue and Encounter – Interfaith Dialogue
How does dialogue build understanding today?

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6

Paper 2 GCSE Theme A 

Unit:  Religion, Relationships and Families

  • Human beings as sexual, male and female
  • A valid marriage in the Catholic Church
  • The nature of marriage, marriage promises and cohabitation
  • Family planning. The nature, roles and purpose of family
  • Gender equality, Gender prejudice and discrimination

Paper 2 GCSE Theme C

Unit: Religion, Human Rights and Social Justice

  • Biblical teachings on dignity
  • Catholic understanding of human rights
  • Catholic teaching on wealth
  • Catholic teachings on the causes of and duty to act against poverty
  • Christian teaching on racial prejudices and discrimination

Paper 1 – Roman Catholicism

Unit: Creation

  • God as creator. Creation of Adam.
  • Humanity as the image of God
  • Humanity as stewards of creation
  • Church tackling global environmental issues. CAFOD.
  • Interpreting the Creation stories
  • Science and Religion

Paper 1 – Roman Catholicism

Unit: Incarnation

  • The revelation of God in the image of humanity
  • Jesus as the source for moral teaching
  • Tradition and St. Irenaeus’ writings
  • Sacramental nature of reality
  • Jesus in symbol and statuary
  • Images of Jesus

Paper 1 – Roman Catholicism

Unit: The Triune God

  • The mystery of the Trinity
  • Expressions of this in music, scripture and tradition. Magisterium
  • The Trinity in the Nicene Creed
  • The Trinity and God’s love
  • Practice of prayer and posture

Paper 1 – Roman Catholicism

Unit: Redemption

  • Paschal mystery of salvation
  • The Church as the ‘Body of Christ’ and redeemed ‘People of God’
  • Interior features of a Catholic church
  • The Eucharist
  • Irenaeus and Anselm

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
Paper 1 – Roman Catholicism

Unit: Church and the Kingdom of God
  • The nature of the Church
  • The Kingdom of God as expressed in the Lord’s Prayer
  • Church as the pilgrim people of God
  • Dramatised prayer and pilgrimage
  • Mission through vocation and service
Paper 1 – Roman Catholicism

Unit: Eschatology
  • Catholic beliefs about life after death
  • Paschal candle as an expression of the risen Christ
  • Michelangelo’s Last Judgement
  • Cosmic reconciliation
  • Funeral rites
  • Catholic views on euthanasia
Paper 2 – Judaism

Unit: Jewish Beliefs
  • The nature of God for Jews
  • The concept of the Shekinah
  • Nature and role of the Messiah
  • Abraham and the Promised Land
  • The covenant at Sinai
  • Jewish moral principles
  • Jewish concept of pikuach nefesh
Paper 2 – Judaism

Unit: Jewish Practices
  • The importance of the synagogue
  • Jewish public worship and prayer
  • The celebration of Shabbat
  • Jewish worship and prayer in the home
  • Jewish rites of passage
  • Jewish dietary laws and their significance
  • Pesach, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
RE GCSE Exam
Revision Schedule
Study Leave
Curriculum prepared June 2025

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Company number 07696728

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