Examination Board: OCR.
Introduction
This course is available to people of any religious belief, or none; you do not have to be religious to succeed in Religious Studies. Pupils who opt to study GCSE Religious Studies at Chatham Grammar School for Boys will follow OCR’s syllabus J620. Fours areas are studied and final assessment is based purely upon examination, as such pupils will not be expected to complete coursework. Homework, assignments etc. are set on a weekly basis. The subject content of the four papers complement each other extremely well. Details of individual papers sat can be seen below. Full details are also available from the Religious Studies Department. Alternatively please look at the exam board’s website: www.ocr.org.uk
Examination structure
Paper Exam Length Weighting
Paper B571 Christianity 1 (Beliefs, Special days, Divisions and Interpretations) 1 Hour 25%
Paper B572 Christianity 2 (Worship, Community and Family, Sacred Writings.) 1 Hour 25%
Paper B584 (Gospel of Luke) 1 Hour 25%
Paper B603 Ethics (Relationships, Medical ethics, Poverty and Wealth) 1 Hour 25%
Course outline
Paper B571 – Christianity 1 (Beliefs, Special days, Divisions and Interpretations).
Candidates examine a number of the core beliefs held by Christians and will look in more depth at the impact these have on the life of a Christian. Some examples of topics covered would include Feastivals, Places of Pilgrimage and the division between Denominations.
Paper B572 Christianity 2 (Worship, Community and Family, Sacred Writings.)
Candidates will examine how different groups of Christians approach aspects such as Worship and Family life. Candidates will also look at how this contributes to social and global community cohesion.
Paper B584 (Gospel of Luke)
Candidates will be using the Gospel of Luke to learn the significance of the teachings of Jesus for the development of Christianity and their beliefs about the nature of God, and how this also adds to community cohesion.
Paper B603 Ethics (Relationships, Medical ethics, Poverty and Wealth)
Candidates analyse Christian responses to contermporary issues such as medical ethics, for example medical research and fertility treatment Candidates will also study in more depth about Christian opinions towards relationships in the family and within marriage as well as global issues such as poverty.
What subjects does Religious Studies compliment?
Religious Studies is capable of complementing just about any other subject such as Business Studies, History and Geography. Religious Studies can also be a useful complement to Science, particularly for those who wish to follow a career in medicine.
Sixth Form and Career Opportunities
In Years 11-13, students have the opportunity to follow the AS/A2 Religious Studies course, which focuses on the Philosophy of Religion and Religious Ethics. With a qualification in Religious Studies, you could go on to Higher Education, at college or university. The skills developed in Religious Studies include interpersonal skills, communication and evaluation; among other things all of which are exceptionally important in most jobs, particularly the social sector. These skills could be particularly useful for careers such as law, education, social work, politics, medicine, administration, public services, the media and many more!
