Key Stage 3

Curriculum

The Religious Education programme, through an exploration of the Bible, the liturgy, church teaching, the witness of Christian living, the world of nature and human experience, seeks to lead the students to know God and to become aware of God’s plan for them and for creation.  It seeks to help them to respond to God’s communicating presence with them

Aims: The general aim of the Religion Department is to awaken people to faith and then help them throughout their lives to deepen and strengthen their faith i.e. lead the people to a mature faith.

Through religion the young person should acquire the knowledge, Understanding, values and attitudes which will enable them:

• to facilitate and support the ongoing development of the faith and spiritual life of the students.
• to provide opportunities for students to come to a deeper knowledge and understanding for their faith and then apply this knowledge and understanding to their life experience
• to develop in the students, skills of listening, discussion analysis evaluation, articulation and communication in the areas of religion.
• the section also seeks to promote understanding of other faiths and respect for the beliefs of others.

These aims are in association with the general aims of the school itself.

Objectives: The overall objectives of the Religion Department are that year 8-10 pupils should follow the advised course of the Diocesan Advisors

1st Year – Fully Alive 1

2nd Year – Fully Alive 2

3rd Year –  Fully Alive 3

These texts are supplemented by the Religion for Living Series.

However, the importance of faith formation through liturgy is also central to Saint John the Baptist’s College. All pupils participate in collective worship daily, as well as special liturgies that are organised for the Liturgical year. These include:

• The beginning of the school year mass.
• Rosary in October
• Prayer service for the Holy Souls in November
• Advent assembly in December
• New Year assembly in January
• Lenten prayer service
• Penitential service
• Easter Assembly
• May Procession

Spiritual Guidance

As a Catholic post-primary school, Saint John the Baptist’s College welcomes the support and assistance of our parish clergy Fr M. Sheehan and Fr P Clarke. During the academic year our pupils join together in worship in St John the Baptist Church, both as a whole school and as participants in the Catholic Schools’ Week liturgy along with other primary and post primary schools throughout the Archdiocese.

We also appreciate the help and guidance given to our school by Fr Declan O’Loughlin the Diocesan Advisor for RE in the Archdiocese of Armagh.

In recent years Saint John the Baptist College has had the support of the Portadown Knights of Columbanus, and we hope to further develop these links in the years to come.

The RE Department 2024

• Miss C Conway (Leader of Learning)
• Miss LM Trainor
• Mr T King
• Mrs A Breslin
• Mr P Rath
• Ms K McGrath

Key Stage 4 Religious Studies Programmes in St John the Baptist’s College

As a Catholic School we pride ourselves in following the Catholic ethos. RE is compulsory at KS4. We have two pathways, these are outlined below:

GCSE Religious Studies

Exam Board: CCEA

This is a new specification for first teaching from September 2017. It is a two-year unitised course assessed by exam only, there is no coursework or controlled assessment.

GCSE Religious Studies is a gateway to many areas of employment.  The qualification is counted as a key contributing subject for jobs in education, law, the medical profession, and government, to name but a few.

CCEA GCSE Religious Studies specification encourages students to develop an enquiring, critical and reflective approach to studying religion. Students explore and engage with important questions about belief and respond to them personally. This can enhance their spiritual, moral and cultural development, helping them to contribute to social cohesion. Students also develop key transferable skills, such as considering different viewpoints and expressing their opinions to influence others.

The two units that will be studied at GCSE level are:

Unit 5: Christianity through a study of The Gospel Of Mark

And

Unit 6: A Introduction to Christian Ethics

We had 100% of pupils achieve A-C in their GCSE RE in Year 12 this year (2024)

OCN Level 2 Certificate in Religious Studies

The OCN NI Level 2 Certificate in Religious Studies is designed for learners who wish to develop knowledge and understanding in religious studies in order to make sense of religious choices people make in today’s society. This is an option for pupils who would struggle to achieve well at GCSE RE. It is intended that learners will develop empathy, respect and awareness of other religious beliefs and cultural diversity. 

By continuous assessment through building a portfolio, learners will be more motivated and engaged to successfully complete the qualification. 

Individual Units

Addiction    

Charity and Religious Charities                                                   

Exploring Personal Identity and Faith                                       

Exploring Religious Traditions within Own Community        

Life and Death Issues                                                                  

Life of a Famous Person of Faith                                               

Marriage and Divorce                                                                

Prejudice and Reconciliation                                                    

World Faith       

Successful completion of this award involves the completion of a portfolio of work – ( 9 assignments over the course of the two years – one on each unit.)

This is a pass/fail award.  If students complete the 9 assignments to the standard expected, then they will pass the exam.

We had 100% of Students pass the OCN RE course this year (2024)