Year 7 RE

What students learn this year:

In Year 7 Religious and Ethics, students explore key moral questions and learn how different worldviews approach issues such as right and wrong, justice, and the value of human life. They study major religions—including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism—focusing on their origins, beliefs, symbols, festivals, and sacred texts, as well as non‑religious perspectives like atheism and humanism. Pupils also consider modern issues such as life in a multi‑faith society, religion and poverty, and the impact of prejudice. Creative activities, including spirituality through art, help them reflect on the diverse beliefs that shape people’s lives.

Term overview (example – overwrite with your subject):

Term / Half-term	Main topics / units	Key knowledge & skills
Autumn 1	Philosophy and ethics: Golden rule, morality, capital punishment	Students will develop the ability to:
		Think critically about ethical questions and different viewpoints.
		Interpret religious texts and symbolism to understand meaning and significance.
Autumn 2	Judaism	Compare beliefs and practices across a range of religions and worldviews.
Spring 1	Judaism and Christianity	Evaluate arguments on moral and social issues using evidence and reasoning.
Spring 2	Holy books	Reflect on personal beliefs while respecting the views of others.
Summer 1	World religions	Recognise and challenge prejudice, including stereotypes and discrimination.
Summer 2	Religion in everyday life	Express ideas creatively through discussion, writing, and artistic responses.

Assessment in this year group:

Type of assessment	Approx. frequency / when	What it is used for (e.g. reports, targets)
Classwork / quizzes	Short retrieval questions during lessons	To check recall of key facts and address misconceptions quickly
Homework tasks	Once per two weeks	To practise applying ideas and build good study habits
End-of-topic assessments	Approximately once per term	To judge understanding of each unit and inform progress data
End-of-year assessment	Summer term	To give an overall picture of progress across the year

Homework and Independent study

How often is homework set? Once per two weeks

Typical length per task: Around 30 minutes

Suggested independent study (websites, reading, apps, routines):

Students are encouraged to spend 10–15 minutes a week reviewing their exercise book and knowledge organiser. Websites such as BBC Bitesize are useful for revising topics we have covered.

How parents and carers can support:

Ask your child to explain one thing they learned in RE today in their own words.
Check that homework is completed on time and in full sentences where required.
Encourage a quiet, distraction-free space for homework and revision.
Help your child to revise little and often rather than leaving everything to the night before a test.

Support, stretch and enrichment:

Support for students who need extra help:

We use writing frames, key vocabulary lists and carefully structured practical tasks to support students who find RE challenging. Teachers liaise with the SEND team to adapt resources where needed.

Stretch & challenge:

More confident students are given challenge questions, opportunities to research real-world applications of RE, and more complex exam-style problems

Clubs / trips / extra opportunities (if any):