Welcome to the Religious Studies Department
"Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path"Psalm 119:105 |
Our Christian Values at the Heart of Religious Studies
Our choice to have the same Biblical verse as the whole school is due to our recognition of the importance of religious texts as a guide to people and their search for their truth in life. Religious scripture is at the heart of all religions and through an in depth study of religious texts, students explore the impact of these in people's search for truth, meaning and purpose. The study of key sacred texts enable students to explore where Christian values originate and also to reflect upon the importance of such values in different religious and non-religious worldviews. The Religious Studies curriculum offers students the opportunity to reflect upon what people find as a guide for their life; what lights their path.
Our Christian Values at the Heart of Religious Studies
At the core of our Religious Studies department are the Christian values of truth, respect, and love. Whilst we promote all the school values, the ones listed above are particularly intrinsic to the Religious Studies curriculum.
The value of truth guides our commitment to honest enquiry and thoughtful reflection. We provide opportunities for them to study what is meant by truth, how and why do different people have varying opinions on what constitutes as truth.
The value of respect is central to our inclusive learning environment. We actively value and engage with a wide diversity of faiths, worldviews, and perspectives. Through learning about a variety of viewpoints and beliefs, we can develop students' understanding of others and help to foster a sense of harmony and respect for religious pluralism.
Love underpins our relationships and our purpose. Inspired by the Christian understanding of love as compassion, kindness, and service, we aim to support each student as a valued member of our community. We promote empathy, care for others, and a sense of responsibility to the wider world. We explore how people show love for God, love for others and love for self,
Together, these values help us nurture reflective, respectful, and compassionate learners who through development of their religious literacy skills, are equipped to engage meaningfully with religious and ethical issues in today’s society.
The Religious Studies department follow the Lancashire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education and we also teach some of the material and content from the Blackburn Diocese Illuminating Pathways Unit. The RS department helps students to explore Balshaw’s Christian values and as a Church of England High School, we predominantly study Christianity, however we also explore different religious worldviews to prepare our students to engage in a multifaith society. Through the study of RS, we enable students to search for answers to the ultimate and challenging question in life of ‘What does it mean to be human?’. The search for the answers to this question involve numerous challenging and provoking questions such as:
- What is God like? Is there a God?
- Where do we belong?
- What unites us?
- Where can we seek truth and meaning?
- Where can we find guidance about how to live our lives?
Religious Studies Curriculum Intent
The core aim of Religious Studies (RS) is to develop students’ religious literacy by deepening their knowledge, understanding, and skills in exploring a range of religious beliefs and worldviews. Students are encouraged to reflect, ask questions, and engage with some of life’s most important issues.
Religious Studies plays a vital role in our curriculum, helping students understand the diverse beliefs that shape the world around them. It fosters respect, empathy, and a recognition of the equality and dignity of all people. Through this, students learn to value different beliefs, challenge prejudice, and contribute positively to a respectful and inclusive society.
Religious Studies Curriculum Implementation
Key Stage Three
Key Stage Four
In Years ten and eleven, short course students study the AQA GCSE specification A, focusing on Christianity and Judaism. In this specification, students explore the key beliefs in Islam and Christianity and the two thematic units which are 'Religion, peace and conflict' and 'Relationships and families'.
From September 2026, all students will study full course Religious Studies.
Religious Studies Department Staff
If you want to speak to a member of the Religious Studies department, these are the members of the department:
Curriculum Leader: Mrs E Latimer
- Mrs K Cherry
- Mrs C Melia-Taylor
- Mr S Riley (Head of Farington)
- Mr P Smith
Extra-curricular Opportunities in Religious Studies
Enriching the learning of students is an ongoing priority for the RS department, as we believe it is a valuable way to develop cultural capital and religious literacy. In the last year we have taken GCSE groups to the local church to explore the significance of Christian Practices. We have also had a trip to Blackburn Cathedral and Noorul Islam Mosque, this was a valuable experience as students were able to experience for themselves two separate places of worship and spoke with faith leaders. The feedback from this was overwhelmingly positive. We have also taken a group of key stage four students to Manchester Jewish Museum. We are very much looking forward to taking a group of students to the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey to investigate the role of faith and authority this year. There are also opportunities within lessons and school itself for enrichment as we have invited visitors in to speak about their faith. We were also delighted to welcome Timothy Choi into school and lessons to talk about his inspirational life, escaping from North Korea twice and rebuilding his life and finding faith.