Year 7

Foundations of Faith and Belief

Students begin their religious education journey at Thomas Adams by exploring fundamental questions about belief, faith, and meaning. The autumn term opens with an investigation into what it means to believe in God, examining different concepts of the divine across various religious traditions. Students explore how belief in God influences personal behaviour, moral choices, and life perspectives, developing an understanding of theistic worldviews and their impact on believers’ daily lives.

This exploration is balanced by examining what it means to be non-religious, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of secular worldviews, humanism, and atheistic perspectives. Students investigate how non-religious individuals find meaning, purpose, and moral guidance without belief in a deity, fostering respect for diverse approaches to life’s fundamental questions. This balanced approach ensures students appreciate the full spectrum of human belief and develop skills in objective analysis.

The spring term continues this foundation-building through focused study of specific religious traditions. Students explore Sikh ideas about equality and service, examining the fundamental principles of Sikhism including the concept of equality regardless of gender, race, or social status. They investigate how Sikh teachings about service to others manifest in practical ways through community kitchens, charitable work, and social justice advocacy. This study helps students understand how religious beliefs translate into concrete actions that benefit society.

The study of Buddhism introduces students to the teachings of Buddha, exploring concepts such as the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and the Buddhist understanding of suffering and enlightenment. Students examine Buddhist practices including meditation, mindfulness, and compassionate living, considering how these teachings provide frameworks for understanding life’s challenges and pursuing inner peace. This exploration broadens students’ understanding of non-theistic religious traditions and alternative approaches to spiritual development.

The summer term culminates in an creative exploration of how people express their beliefs through art. Students examine religious and spiritual art across cultures and traditions, analysing how artists use visual media to convey deep spiritual truths, religious narratives, and personal faith experiences. This interdisciplinary approach connects religious education with artistic expression, helping students appreciate the diverse ways humans communicate their most profound beliefs and experiences.

Year 9

Ethics and Ultimate Questions

Year 9 represents the culmination of key stage 3 religious education, with students engaging sophisticated ethical questions and exploring life’s ultimate meanings. The autumn term begins with fundamental questions about moral decision-making, exploring how individuals determine right from wrong. Students examine different ethical frameworks including religious commandments, utilitarian calculations, duty-based ethics, and virtue approaches, developing skills in moral reasoning and ethical analysis.

This ethical foundation leads to investigating why people are good or bad, examining different explanations for human moral behaviour. Students explore religious concepts including sin, grace, free will, and divine guidance alongside secular perspectives on moral development, social conditioning, and individual responsibility. This comparative approach helps students understand diverse explanations for human behaviour whilst developing their own ethical reasoning skills.

The spring term addresses fundamental questions about suffering and prophecy. Students explore why people suffer, examining religious and philosophical responses to pain, injustice, and tragedy. They investigate concepts including divine justice, karma, free will, and natural law, considering how different traditions help believers cope with suffering whilst maintaining faith and hope. This sensitive exploration helps students understand how religious and philosophical frameworks address life’s most challenging experiences.

The study of prophecy examines whether the world needs prophets, investigating the role of religious leaders who claim divine inspiration and challenge social norms. Students explore biblical prophets, contemporary religious leaders, and social reformers, considering how prophetic voices contribute to social justice, moral development, and religious renewal. This study helps students understand the continuing relevance of prophetic traditions in addressing contemporary challenges.

The summer term concludes with philosophical investigation into whether happiness should be the purpose of life. Students examine different approaches to human flourishing including hedonistic pleasure-seeking, Aristotelian eudaimonia, Buddhist liberation from suffering, and Christian concepts of eternal joy. They consider how different understandings of happiness influence life choices, moral behaviour, and social priorities, developing sophisticated understanding of philosophical and religious approaches to life’s ultimate purpose.