<h2>Religious Studies</h2><p>Exam Board: Edexcel</p><p>Religious Studies&nbsp;at the Garibaldi School provides access to a nationally-accredited qualification for students who would like to take their studies further.</p>

<p>Our goal is to open doors into further and higher education, allowing students to take their thinking skills and knowledge on to new challenges.</p>

<p>Our hope is that when our students arrive in the workplace, they will be articulate and understanding of their colleagues as well as being well-equipped to build families and businesses of their own.</p>

<p>The GCSE aims to help students:</p>

<ul>
 <li>Develop their ability to construct well-argued, well-informed, balanced and structured written arguments, demonstrating their depth and breadth of understanding of the subject.</li>
 <li>Engage with questions of belief, value, meaning, purpose, truth, and their influence on human life.</li>
 <li>Reflect on and develop their own values, beliefs and attitudes in the light of what they have learnt and will contribute to their preparation for adult life in a pluralistic society and global community.</li>
 <li>Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of two religious traditions.</li>
</ul><h3>Assessment</h3><p>The Pearson Edexcel GCSE for Religious Studies is a 100% examination qualification. Students will study two papers, each of which requires an examination. The marks from both examination form the final grade.</p>

<p><strong>Area of Study 1 &mdash;&nbsp;Religion and Ethics</strong></p>

<p>Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes, 50% of the qualification.</p>

<p>Content overview:</p>

<p>Students must study all four content sections based upon Christianity.</p>

<ul>
 <li>Beliefs</li>
 <li>Marriage and the Family</li>
 <li>Living the Religious Life</li>
 <li>Matters of Life and Death</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>Area of Study 2 &mdash;&nbsp;Religion, Peace and Conflict</strong></p>

<p>Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes, 50% of the qualification.</p>

<p>Content overview:</p>

<p>Students must study all four content sections based upon their chosen religion. We strongly recommend the study of Islam, although students can study Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism, or Buddhism instead.</p>

<ul>
 <li>Beliefs</li>
 <li>Crime and Punishment</li>
 <li>Living the Religious Life</li>
 <li>Peace and Conflict</li>
</ul><h3>Where can it lead?</h3><p>Students can progress from this qualification to:</p>

<ul>
 <li>AS and A Levels in Religious Studies and other subjects</li>
 <li>Vocational qualifications, such as BTEC Nationals</li>
</ul>

<p>RS is prized in many fields because a student&rsquo;s ability to construct well-argued, well-informed, balanced and structured written arguments is useful in most modern businesses and organisations. Anyone who has to convince others of their ideas will find these skills useful.</p>

<p>RS is particularly of value to anyone who wishes to pursue a career where moral and ethical values are paramount such as sales, marketing, medical, legal, educational, political and military organisations. Most senior leaders in business have a background in Religious Studies, especially those working with people and serving the community.</p>

<p>An understanding of two world religious traditions &mdash;&nbsp;especially Christianity and Islam because they account for the majority of human beings &mdash;&nbsp;provides a strong basis for when students meet people of differing faith and belief. Additionally, the course teaches about non-religious, atheistic, and agnostic philosophies which supports the mixed environment most people live in today.</p>