R.E. Department
Religious Education and Spiritual Development
BGN is a Roman Catholic School which aims to be an extension of the Christian home to help parents bring up their children in the Christian tradition. We believe that the religious ethos will be found across the whole school curriculum.
Religious Education, as a subject, is taught throughout the school and all pupils are entered for public examinations (either GCSE or Certificate of Educational Achievement) at Key Stage 4. In addition the school has a good record of achievement at AS and A2 Level Religious Studies where it is studied as “Theology and Philosophy”. At Post 16 we follow the Diocesan Certificate course in Catholic Social Teaching and the Diploma Course in Bioethics, both of which are validated by the Oxford Delegacy.
Religious Education is based on Scripture, Doctrine, Liturgy and Life Experience as the means whereby we discover how best to “love God and love our neighbour”. The aim is to help each person to deepen his/her awareness of Christ and His Church, thereby developing an ever maturing realisation of his /her vocation. Parents are encouraged to discuss the religious educational progress of their children with the Head of RE, Miss Rachel Smith, or with the individual RE teacher concerned. Spiritual development of students does not begin and end in RE lessons, but is integral to the whole school and so we offer a range of religious experiences outside the curriculum. There are residential retreats to Alton Castle in Staffordshire and Soli House in Stratford-on-Avon, and the yearly Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes. There are also day retreats in school and visits to places of historical and religious interest, for example Harvington Hall.
We celebrate mass as a school community at the beginning of the year and on the Church’s named Holy Days. The School Carol Service takes place at St John’s Church, Banbury. As a School Community we attempt to reach out not only to the parish but also to the local community, holding a party for Senior Citizens every Christmas and supporting local and national charities e.g. Father Hudson’s Homes, CAFOD, Shelter.
The Pope has said that parents are the first and best educators of their children and this is particularly so in the field of Sex Education. In school we endeavour to support the work of the home and ensure that sex education is firmly situated within the reaching of the Catholic Church.
Topics this Term:
Year 7: The Sacraments
Year 8: Judaism – Historical background; beliefs and practise today.
Year 9: Images of God
Year 10: Miracles; Moral issues – abortion and contraception
Year 11: Marriage coursework
Year 12: Theology – Wealth in Luke`s Gospel;
Philosophy – the Design Argument, The Problem of
Evil
Year 13: Theology – Jesus` relationship with the Religious and Political Authorities.
Philosophy – Religious Experience
Extra Coursework classes/Revision workshops for Year 11:
Every Tuesday 3.30pm – 4.30pm in C2, C3,C4 up to half term for coursework help; after half term revision classes start at the same time, same place.
Important Deadlines:
Monday 25thFebruary 2007 - Year 11 Coursework deadline
Thursday 8th February 2007 - Upper sixths essays on Religious/Political Authorities due in
Thursday 1st May 2007 - Lower Sixth AS Coursework final deadline
Forthcoming Trips:
Tue 29th April to Fri 2nd May 2008 - Year 10 Residential Trip to Soli House
Resources Available: (please see RE staff for details)
Christian Perspectives £11.99
St Mark`s Gospel £1.00
GCSE Bitesize Religious Studies £4.99
AS Religious Studies £17.95
Philosophy of Religion – Peter Cole £8.99
The Bible (RSV) £13.99
AS Religious Studies £17.95
THE R.E. DEPARTMENT
at
BLESSED GEORGE NAPIER
The R.E. Department at BGN consists of six qualified teachers and two teaching assistants who work together, sharing a common vision and faith, to achieve agreed objectives.
• We have a variety of gifts, talents, backgrounds and skills which we employ to the advantage of students and the department as a whole; students learn through a variety of teaching styles and are stimulated by the range of interests and breadth of experience each teacher brings to the subject.
• The department is well organised and runs smoothly. This is particularly in evidence in the preparation and celebration of whole school liturgical events; we all know what to do and what each other is doing, whether in or outside the classroom. Each member of the department is approachable and supportive of each other.
• Results at GCSE are good and in the main above the national average. This is reflected in the numbers who take up the subject at AS and A Level. KS3 schemes of work are currently being revised with increased emphasis on: extended writing tasks; peer and self assessment; and raising student awareness of their levels, targets and how to meet these targets. All members of the department are involved in this initiative, each developing a different part of the curriculum for the benefit of the whole team.
• Parents and pupils responded very positively in a recent survey, indicating that the pupils enjoyed the subject and parents were happy with their spiritual development and academic achievement. Members of the department report back regularly to parents through the planners and at parents’ evenings, using rewards to praise progress and the school sanction system when necessary.
• The department has strong links with the local parishes, the diocese and Oxford Brookes University. We are recognised by Oxford Brookes as a good training partner and we regularly receive students wishing to gain experience in an environment where religious education is held in high regard and taught to all students 11-18 years, whatever their background or ability