Religious Studies
RE, RI, RS, or Theology - What is it all called these days ?
Religious Education is a broad term describing that religious formation and study of religion which goes on in the classroom. Here at The Oratory School, RE is firmly founded in the teaching of Catholic Christianity in keeping with the spirit and example of our founder, John Henry Newman, and in line with the Catholic Bishops’ Curriculum Directory. If you are studying the subject to exam level, then it is called Religious Studies – RS – which is the exam boards’ official title for the syllabuses.
So what goes on in RE:
In years 1-3 pupils follow the course, "Way, Truth and Life" from the CTS stable, covering the gospel narrative of Christ’s life and teaching, Passion, Death and Resurrection, as well as basic Christian doctrine on God, the Church, the Sacraments, feasts, saints, the after-life. The aim is to give an excellent foundation of knowledge and understanding of the Catholic Christian faith which lies at the heart of The Oratory community. In the Sixth Form, a suitably broader range of content is studied: world faiths, ethical issues, Church history, religious philosophy.
For the 4th and 5th years:
There is an option here to do a full GCSE course (OCR Board World Religions syllabus A), on four periods a week. The syllabus content covers Christian beliefs and practices, and approaches to moral issues, with particular reference to Catholicism. It does not of course examine the candidate’s own faith, but requires a thorough knowledge of the material – as in any academic discipline. The two papers are: Christianity through a study of Mark's Gospel and Acts and Christian Perspectives on Moral Issues. Those who do not choose the currently optional course will follow a pared down version of the same content with a reduced timetable
Can you do A Level RS ?
Definitely. AS Religious Studies in the Lower Sixth is a popular option and covers Ethical Theory and Bio-ethics, and New Testament Studies with special reference to the Passion Narratives in Mark and John. In the Upper Sixth, the A2 continues the Ethics and New Testament content. It’s an OCR syllabus again – Route J.
Who, what and where is the RE Department:
I teach all the AS and A2 classes and some of the GCSE. I have been at The Oratory for sixteen years. The Chaplain, Fr Antony Conlon, is responsible for the non-exam RE in the Sixth Form. Mr Kenneth Macnab MA, teaches the fifth form non-exam groups and shares the third and fourth form with me. Mrs Elizabeth Thomas BA MA(Ed) covers the St Philip House teaching. The department is housed in a large and friendly dedicated classroom with two ensuite offices and storage and all the usual audio-visual furnishings.
Are there trips and away-days ?
Certainly. At the heart of the Oratorian ethos which Cardinal Newman wanted for his school is the life-affirming nature of a deep and active faith: to be Christian is to be fully and enjoyably human. To this end we make a number of trips and visits each year which combine fun and interest with sound doctrinal input and spiritual reflection. St Philip Neri's own recipe for the religious formation of young men!
Our trips include Westminster, a Newman "pilgrimage". Harvington Hall, Arundel, and nearer to home for the younger years, Mapledurham, Littlemore and Fawley Court.
Dora Nash MA(Cantab) PGCE, Adv Dip RE
Head of Department