INTRODUCTION – AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES – Full and Half Course

This is a very important time of your child's life. Choosing the right courses now may influence their future career path. This booklet gives details relating specifically to the GCSE courses we offer at Kingshill School.

The following general points relating to the GCSE courses on offer should be noted.

1. 1. GCSE scale of awards for 2006 – 2008:

A*, A, B, C, D, E, F, G and U

Those from A* to G are passes with A* to C commonly referred to as "higher" grades. In addition a grade X implies that the candidate has failed to meet the minimum requirements of the examination either through failure to complete coursework or non attendance at the terminal examinations. Vocational GCSE courses are graded in exactly the same way.

2. 2. Accurate Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar in GCSE Examinations

Current guidelines state that 5% of total marks available should be allocated to spelling, punctuation and grammar. The full 5% can be earned with a high level of accuracy. This affects all GCSE examinations except Mathematics.

3. 3. Coursework

Please take note of differing requirements between subjects with regard to coursework. The coursework component is obviously of importance and we would ask you to support your son's/daughter's work through:

· · regularly asking him/her which coursework pieces he/she is presently engaged in, and/or which are coming up in the near future.

· · asking for marks/grades of latest pieces.

· · asking to read through completed pieces, thus checking for completion, sense,

grammar etc.

· · helping them to plan their time with regard to other demands and the needs of

your family life.

· · ensuring things are not left to the last minute.

· · ensure he/she makes the most of opportunities available to them e.g. documentaries etc on TV or radio, using the Town Library, using the experience, knowledge and skills of people, gathering information from sources such as the Internet.

The most important aspect of success in Upper School Courses is that the pupil should be well organised. It is essential that Student Planners are maintained and that adequate time is given to completing the tasks set.

OUR CORE CURRICULUM

Kingshill wishes to offer a broad balanced curriculum for all its pupils in order to ensure that their options are left open at post 16 level, hence there is a large core curriculum which the majority of pupils follow : -

Subject

English, Mathematics, Science, Modern Languages, Core P.E / Health related fitness

Citizenship / Careers, RE Short Course GCSE

In addition pupils choose three more courses, which account for the remaining 30% of the timetable.

The following pages describe the course available to your son/daughter over the next two years. The section printed on white paper contains details of the core subjects, which all pupils will study. The section printed on yellow paper contains details of the optional subjects.

When helping your child to decide on their subject choice for Key Stage 4 please bear in mind the following points:

(i) It is our belief that pupils benefit from following a broad range of subjects and that this range should only be narrowed in exceptional circumstances.

(ii) Pupils who choose to pursue one area at the expense of another should only do so for positive reasons, i.e. their strengths and talents in Design & Technology or Creative & Expressive should be emphasised rather than their weakness elsewhere as justification for dropping a subject.

(iii) The form “Your Subject Choice” at the back of this booklet should be completed and returned to Form Tutors by Friday 24^th March at the latest.

RELIGIOUS STUDIES - Half Course

EXAM BOARD AQA

TEACHER I/C OF SUBJECT MRS D CHRISTOPHER

METHOD OF ASSESSMENT 100% Examination

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is based on two themes:

Theme A Worship

Theme B Relationships, Rights and Responsibilities.

Pupils will study beliefs, concepts, practices, and worship of two religions, one of which will be Christianity, together with their responses to ethical issues.

RANGE OF ACTIVITIES

Pupils will participate in a range of activities including individual and group work, ICT for presentation and research, visitors from the faith communities, visits to the places of worship, simulation exercises and oral tasks designed to promote evaluative skills.

WHAT WILL A STUDENT LEARN FROM TAKING THIS SUBJECT?

Pupils will acquire knowledge and understanding of the two faiths studied. In addition:

To listen to the views of others

To consider responses to moral issues

To respond to fundamental questions of life

To develop skills of empathy and tolerance

To work independently and with others

HOW DOES THE SUBJECT HELP AS A QUALIFICATION FOR FUTURE COURSES AND CAREERS AND/OR MEET OTHER NEEDS SUCH AS LEISURE/ENJOYMENT?

Pupils will continue to develop the generic skills that enable people to perform well in education, training and life as a whole. This course will enable pupils to develop skills relevant to the study of religion in the future, for example those who wish to take the subject at 'A' level or beyond.

We are living in a multi-cultural society where greater understanding of one another's lifestyles and beliefs is vital. It should help for better relationships in the work place as well as our social environments. This course is designed to foster greater understanding of different lifestyles and encourage open discussion on ethical issues.

RELIGIOUS STUDIES - Full Course

EXAM BOARD AQA

TEACHER I/C OF SUBJECT MRS D CHRISTOPHER

METHOD OF ASSESSMENT 100% Examination

20% Coursework – 2 assignments

80% Examination – 2 papers

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Pupils follow an in-depth study of two religions, Islam and Judaism. In this they consider the following themes: an awareness of common ground shared by believers, significant differences between different groups, beliefs and sources of authority, worship, personal and community life, family relationships, justice and equality, matters of life and death.

RANGE OF ACTIVITIES

The pupils are encouraged throughout in the basic skills of reading and recording information which is developed to enable them to fulfil the demands of coursework and public examinations. Individual and group work, role play and other simulation exercises all help pupils to develop their knowledge and understanding. Oral tasks are widely incorporated to help promote evaluative skills and discussion of fundamental questions. Visits to places of worship and the meeting of believers are of primary importance for understanding the nature of each religion and also to promote qualified points of view in coursework responses. ICT will be used for research and presentations.

WHAT WILL A STUDENT LEARN BY TAKING THIS SUBJECT

Pupils will acquire knowledge and develop understanding of the belief, values and traditions of Islam and Judaism. They will be encouraged to consider religious and other responses to moral issues. Pupils will also investigate and respond to fundamental questions of life.

This subject can be studied in combination with any of the other three Humanities subjects Humanities, History and Geography.

HOW DOES THE SUBJECT HELP AS A QUALIFICATION FOR FUTURE COURSES AND CAREERS AND/OR MEET OTHER NEEDS SUCH AS LEISURE/ENJOYMENT?

Through Religious Studies pupils have the opportunity to study two religions in depth that are frequently at the forefront of world news. They will use generic skills that form part of the 'main' and 'wider' key skills that enable people to perform well in education, training and life as a whole. The approach particularly prepares pupils for the demands of 'A' level, not only in Religious Studies, but also History and English. Religious Studies helps pupils to explore the issues surrounding life in a multi-cultural society, thus equipping them for life in the work place. Many careers e.g. teaching, police, personnel work, nursing etc. all advocate this as a valuable qualification.