Maricourt is a Roman Catholic school that was established by the Sisters of Mercy to enable pupils to be educated in a caring, Christian environment. While there is no desire to force pupils to accept a particular religious approach to life, the school hopes to make pupils aware of the central role that religion and spiritual matters play in the lives of most people. Through this experience, the school hopes to enable pupils to question their own understanding of life and its values and to gain the necessary groundwork to find answers to the essential questions of life as their life situation changes.

Key Stage 3

All students follow a structured curriculum at Key Stage 3 based on the Archdiocesan Framework 'People of God – Called to Serve'. Students receive four lessons of RE over the two week timetable.

During Year 7 and Year 8 students in addition to Catholic Christianity students will study one world religion (Judaism and Hinduism). Students have the opportunity to work individually, in pairs and in groups and discuss and listening skills are developed during lessons. In Year 9 students gradually begin the GCSE RE course but do break throughout the liturgical year to study important events such as Advent and Lent.

Students in Years 7, 8 and 9 are set homework weekly. This homework is varied in style ranging from written tasks to research and learning activities.

Key Stage 4

GCSE RE at builds upon the knowledge, content and skills developed at Key Stage 3. All students study for the full course GSCE. As a Catholic school all students are required to study Roman Catholic Christianity as the main religion with Judaism as the second religion. Students follow the Pearson Edexcel specification A – Belief and Practice in the 21st Century GCSE.

The Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9–1) in Religious Studies A consists of three externally-examined papers:

• Paper 1: Area of Study 1 – Catholic Christianity
• Paper 2: Area of Study 2 – Judaism
• Paper 3: Area of Study 3 – Philosophy and Ethics (Catholic Christianity)

Paper 1: Area of Study 1 – Roman Catholic Christianity
This paper is worth 50% of the RE GCSE.
The four topics it contains are:

• Beliefs and Teachings
• Practices
• Sources of Wisdom and Authority
• Forms of Expression and Ways of Life

Paper 2: Area of Study 2 – Judaism
This paper is worth 25% of the RE GCSE.
The two topics it contains are:

• Beliefs and Teachings
• Practices

Paper 3: Area of Study 3 – Philosophy and Ethics Roman Catholic
This paper is worth 25% of the RE GCSE.
The two topics it contains are:

• Arguments for the Existence of God ?
• Religious Teachings on Relationships and Families in the 21st century

Students in Years 10 and 11 have five RE lessons a fortnight and homework is set weekly.

Why is RE important?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/schools/keep-the-faith-why-religious-education-is-booming-769322.html

How can RE help me in the future?

GCSE Religious Studies is a stepping stone to a wide range of future opportunities. The skills you develop will support you in further studies and employment. Many GCSE Religious Studies students go on to study the subject at A Level and degree level at university. When you enter the world of work, you will be expected to work alongside people with different beliefs to your own. Religious Studies will help you to understand how to work with people of all faiths and cultures. These skills are important in all careers, especially professions such as the police, teaching, the law, social work, journalism, charity work, the caring professions and the armed forces.

Studying RE gives you important time to reflect on yourself and life but also gives you an opportunity to gain another qualification. What is said of many subjects is definitely true about studying RE: the more you put into it, the more you get out of it.