Title

What students learn this year:

In Year 8 Religious Education, students explore a rich and thought‑provoking range of themes designed to deepen their understanding of belief, values, and the world around them. They examine Jewish concept of following God, Jewish and Christian teachings about the Messiah, alongside wider philosophical questions about sin, free will, evolution abortion and war which allow students to develop their ability to think critically and ethically. Pupils also learn about Sikh beliefs with a focus on equality.

Term overview :

Term / Half-term	Main topics / units	Key knowledge & skills
Autumn 1	Jewish and Christian belief about God	Throughout the year, students strengthen their ability to:
		· Think critically about moral and philosophical questions
		· Compare and evaluate different religious and non‑religious viewpoints
Autumn 2	Philosophy and Ethics: Sin and forgiveness	· Use evidence and reasoning to form balanced arguments
Spring 1	Sikhism and equality	· Reflect on how beliefs influence behaviour, identity and society
Spring 2	Philosophy and Ethics: pets, abortion and war	· Express personal views respectfully while understanding others’ perspectives
Summer 1	Philosophy and Ethics: religion and science, evolution and theories about the existence of God	· Interpret religious teachings, symbolism and practices
Summer 2	Families and relationships	· Apply ethical thinking to real‑world issues and dilemmas

How learning and progress are checked

Teaching approach (1–2 sentences):

In Year 8 students revisit four of the main religions to develop deeper knowledge and understanding. Lessons combine short teacher explanations with the opportunity to question and discuss key concepts. Alongside regular retrieval practice, we aim to keep students thinking hard, so that key ideas are revisited and remembered over time.

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 / quizzes most 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 week

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:

(Practical tips – 3–6 bullet points; example shown below.)

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 (1–2 sentences):

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

Stretch & challenge (1–2 sentences):

More confident students are given challenge questions, opportunities to research real-world applications of RE and to write effectively using PEEL paragraphs

Clubs / trips / extra opportunities (if any):

Year 8 students get to attend a local church as part of one of the extended learning days.