Religious Education and Assemblies

Religious Education lessons and Religious Assemblies are, by law, a compulsory part of the school curriculum but we hope that they will be far more than a legal obligation.

Within the compulsory lessons, Christianity and other religions are studied and moral and ethical issues discussed. In Year 9 all pupils begin a GCSE half course in RE. This continues through to Year 11. In years 10 and 11 students consider such issues as euthanasia and abortion as well as studying world religions.

The assemblies aim to foster feelings of sharing and being part of a community, to stimulate thought about attitudes and values, and to raise levels of understanding of our own and other cultures and societies. Assemblies to combined year groups are usually delivered by Senior and Pastoral staff and pupils are involved whenever possible. Assemblies are delivered to individual year groups by their Heads of Year.

Parents have the right to withdraw their children from Religious Education lessons and Assemblies if they wish. In practice this is seldom found to be desirable. Pupils who have been withdrawn from Religious Education are able to do private study work in the School Library. It would be helpful if parents discussed the matter with the Head before making a final decision.