We engage in the deepest questions of faith, life, truth and hope. 1 Peter 3:15
We recognise that good religious education is the foundation of the entire educational process. We comprehensively and systematically study key religious and ethical questions, ensuring the curriculum is academically rigorous and challenging.
Character development is our primary aim, which we strive for through academic excellence. In this respect, the subject plays an important role in ensuring that the school lives out its ethos, encouraging students to grow in virtues such as generosity and self-discipline. However, we also recognise the wider role of RE in the wider formation of a student’s character in ensuring a student’s ability to discern the meaning of their existence.
The subject also ensures that, in line with governmental guidance, students are taught British values such as individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs. The RE curriculum allows for these values to be taught, as can be seen in the school’s RE and British Values document.
All students at The Cedars study RE up to GCSE level and from years 7-11 students are given two single lessons of R.E per week (1 hour, 30 minutes overall).
Pupils are taught The Way, The Truth and The Life curriculum which meets the requirements of the Religious Education Curriculum Directory for Catholic schools and uses the teachings of the catechism to help form its content.
Pupils are taught a Religious Studies GCSE which follows the Eduqas Route B curriculum:
GCSE Examination: Eduqas Route B Specification
In the Sixth Form, Year 12 students study a ‘Core Studies’ programme which explores foundational Catholic Theology and Philosophy. This course is not externally examined but written work is marked according to school policy.