In Religious Studies we deepen student knowledge and understanding of a broad range of religious and non-religious world views in order for them to experience new ideas and learn,reflect, and engage with the world around them. We foster a love of learning. Our curriculum is knowledge rich and empowers students so they think independently and fully participate in communities and wider society.

Our curriculum is designed to:

• Develop knowledge of a range of religious and non-religious worldviews through philosophical, theological and sociological enquiry.
• Be aspirational and have high expectations of all students.
• Reflecting our students’ own experiences of community but also allow students to experience communities and ideas other than their own to enable them to have a greater understanding of the world we live in.

• Expert subject and pedagogical knowledge that delivers;
• An exploration of core and gateway concepts, using methods of delivery that are rooted in the science behind the acquisition of knowledge, including first class deliberate and independent practice.
• Skillful checking for understanding through effective questioning including ‘pitstops’ that is designed to anticipate errors and tackle misconceptions head on.
• Reinforcement of knowledge that deepens understanding and promotes transition from novice to expert learners with fluent comprehension and application of specialist vocabulary. This transition is supported by research based strategies of rehearsal, including retrieval practice and elaboration.

All KS3 and KS4 students at Co-op Academy Priesthorpe participate in Religious Studies lessons with KS3 students having 2 hours of curriculum time over the fortnight which is 4% and KS4 students who access CORE Religious Studies have 2% of their Curriculum time. Religious Studies is a popular subject at Options level and in 2020 there were 115 students who had chosen Religious Studies as a GCSE option and 20 students who were studying the Religious Studies A level. The Religious Studies department has 2 specialist members of staff.