At MEA Central, we believe that Religious Education plays a crucial role in providing our students with a comprehensive understanding of different religious traditions, beliefs, and practices, allowing them to meet every citizen as an equal. Our intention for our curriculum is to foster a respectful and inclusive learning environment that promotes religious literacy, critical thinking, empathy, and an appreciation for diversity. We aim to empower our students to engage with religion as a significant aspect of human culture and society, enabling them to navigate a complex and interconnected world.

“Religion does not just concern one’s personal relationship with God; it’s more about the manner in which we interact with others – about our broader responsibilities to the human family and the earth we share.” Desmond Tutu

Through Religious Education, we aim to develop our students' critical thinking skills. Students will be encouraged to analyse and evaluate religious concepts, texts, and practices, considering different perspectives and engaging in respectful dialogue. They will learn to ask probing questions, develop reasoned arguments, and apply logical reasoning to religious and ethical issues. We recognise that Religious Education intersects with various disciplines, including Philosophy, History and the Arts. Our curriculum intends to foster interdisciplinary connections, allowing students to explore the influence of religion on different aspects of human society, culture, and the arts. This approach enhances students' understanding of the wider world and encourages them to make connections across different subjects.

It is a ‘facilitating subject’ which opens the doors to many careers, including but not limited to: Law, Public services, Education, Tourism, Journalism, Health & Social Care and Medicine.

Our Key Stage 3 Religious Education curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive and inclusive exploration of various religions and beliefs, while also promoting the development of key skills and values that are essential for our students' personal, social, and academic growth. Our curriculum aims to develop religious literacy by introducing students to a wide range of religious traditions and beliefs. We strive to provide a balanced and unbiased understanding of these traditions, their historical contexts, key figures, texts, rituals, and practices. By doing so, we aim to equip our students with the knowledge and understanding necessary to navigate an increasingly diverse and multicultural society.

We encourage students to reflect on their own beliefs, values, and experiences, while exploring the values and teachings of different religious traditions. Through this, we aim to develop students' empathy, compassion, tolerance, and respect for others, nurturing their personal and social well-being. We also encourage students to explore their own sense of identity, purpose, and meaning in the context of religious and non-religious world views. ‘Philosophy might help ambiguity early on. If we can help children be more comfortable that there isn’t always a correct answer from the beginning, this might help. Teaching children to sit comfortably with ambiguity…’. Students are first introduced to RE through the CAP curriculum and then in Year 9 study Religious Education as a discrete subject, preparing them for academic success In Key Stage 4 and beyond.

Year 9 Religious Education Curriculum

Our chosen GCSE Religious Studies course compliments and sharpens the skills and knowledge that students are taught in our Key Stage 3 CAP and RE curriculums, with the aim of allowing the students of MEA Central ‘to meet every citizen as an equal’. The core principles of acceptance, equality and understanding underpin all that students learn in the Edexcel Religious Studies GCSE course.

The Key Stage 4 Religious Studies curriculum is designed to support students to gain a coherent understanding of two major modern world religions: Christianity and Islam. We aim to ensure that all students understand the core beliefs and practices of the religions, as well as analysing religious responses to ethical questions in the world today. For this reason, we have chosen to study the Edexcel Specification B ‘Beliefs in Actions’. “Whether or not you have a religious background, the study of the beliefs, ethics and values which have defined our civilisations over hundreds of years provides insight into one of the most fascinating aspects of the human psyche.” The University of Manchester

Year 10 Religious Education Curriculum

Year 11 Religious Education Curriculum