Culture & Issues

Curriculum Intent

• Culture and Issues looks at how people’s beliefs and values influence the lives they lead and the choices they make. The studies completed are in line with Wiltshire’s locally agreed syllabus and as such students will learn about religions, but also from religions. Our focus is to encourage students to ‘think big’ by engaging with the big philosophical and ethical questions that mankind has contemplated since the beginning of time. Through engaging with these questions, we aim to develop independent learners who are able to express their own opinions in a reflective manner, and develop a range of transferable skills that will equip our students to be successful in the wider curriculum and prepare them for the future. Additionally, we seek to create global citizens; students that are culturally literate, empathetic and understanding of diverse communities and global issues. Our Key Stage 3 curriculum is carefully constructed so that students gain an insight into the six major world faiths whilst exploring topics and themes relevant to the locality of Wiltshire and the wider world. We begin by exploring the many facets that, when put together, create a religion and then use this a base to further explore issues within religion and wider communities. In Key stage 4 we take the opportunity to create a passion for lifelong learning by religion through a range of different ‘lenses’ such as Psychology, Sociology and Classics. Not only will this give students a richer understanding of the nature of faith but also allow them to explore subjects that may be of interest to them post-16. Students who decide to take GCSE Philosophy and Ethics will equipped with an in-depth knowledge of Buddhist philosophy and Christian theology that they will be able to apply to a range of philosophical and ethical issues such as Human Rights, the existence of God and the aims of punishment. 

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