Year 9 RE
What students learn this year: (2–4 sentences, parent-friendly overview of the year)
In Year 9 Religious and Ethics, students explore the rich diversity of global faith traditions while building the foundations for GCSE study. They do many comparative studies and examine Catholic and Protestant denominations, different perspectives on Jesus as Messiah or prophet, alongside a study of Christian and Muslim beliefs about God. Pupils investigate key places of worship such as the Mosque and Mandir and learn about sacred texts including the Guru Granth Sahib. Students then explore Buddhism’s origins, the Eightfold Path, and the ways Buddhism is practised around the world. The year concludes with an introduction to GCSE Religious Education: Christian beliefs, preparing students with the knowledge and confidence needed for further study at GCSE.
Term overview:
|
Term / Half-term |
Main topics / units |
Key knowledge & skills |
|
Autumn 1 |
How the catholic church developed and changed |
Students will develop the ability to: |
|
· Comparative analysis: identifying similarities and differences between world religions. |
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Autumn 2 |
Hinduism |
· Interpretation of religious teachings: understanding how beliefs shape identity and practice. |
|
Spring 1 |
Buddhism |
· Critical thinking: evaluating contrasting viewpoints respectfully and thoughtfully. |
|
Spring 2 |
Can war ever be justified |
· Use of religious vocabulary: applying key terms accurately in discussion and writing. |
|
Summer 1 |
Christian Beliefs (GCSE) |
· Reflection on beliefs and values: considering how religious ideas relate to ethical questions and personal perspectives. |
|
Summer 2 |
Christian beliefs (GCSE) |
· Preparation for GCSE study: developing the knowledge base and confidence needed for the next stage. |
How learning and progress are checked
Teaching approach (1–2 sentences):
In Year 9 students will develop evaluative, analytical and critical skills. They will go deeper in three main religions and cover a number of topics that require them to develop the ability to justify their own points of view whilst maintaining an open mind, being able to understand and challenge different perspectives. They will begin to be challenged more in their extended writing in order to prepare them for GCSE.
Assessment in this year group:
|
Type of assessment |
Approx. frequency / when |
What it is used for (e.g. reports, targets) |
|
Classwork / quizzes |
Short retrieval quizzes most lessons |
To check recall of key facts and address misconceptions quickly |
|
Homework tasks |
Once per week |
To practise applying ideas and build good study habits |
|
End-of-topic assessments |
Approximately once per half-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? Every 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:
(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 extension questions, opportunities to research real-world applications of RE, and more complex exam-style problems (example).
Clubs / trips / extra opportunities (if any):