Religious Education

Welcome to the Religious Studies Department

Our Christian Values at the Heart of Religious Studies

At the core of our Religious Studies department are the Christian values of truth, respect, and love. Whilst we promote all the school values, the ones listed above are particularly intrinsic to the Religious Studies curriculum. 

The value of truth guides our commitment to honest enquiry and thoughtful reflection.   We provide opportunities for them to study what is meant by truth, how and why do different people have varying opinions on what constitutes as truth

The value of respect is central to our inclusive learning environment. We actively value and engage with a wide diversity of faiths, worldviews, and perspectives. Through  learning about a variety of viewpoints and beliefs, we can develop students' understanding of others and help to foster a sense of harmony and respect for religious pluralism.

Love underpins our relationships and our purpose. Inspired by the Christian understanding of love as compassion, kindness, and service, we aim to support each student as a valued member of our community. We promote empathy, care for others, and a sense of responsibility to the wider world. We explore how the value of love for God, love for others and love for self, 

Together, these values help us nurture reflective, respectful, and compassionate learners who through development of their religious literacy skills, are equipped to engage meaningfully with religious and ethical issues in today’s society.

The Religious Studies department follow the Lancashire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education and we also teach some of the material and content from the Blackburn Diocese Illuminating Pathways Unit. The RS department helps students to explore Balshaw’s Christian values and as a Church of England High School, we predominantly study Christianity, however we also explore different religious worldviews to prepare our students to engage in a multifaith society. Through the study of RS, we enable students to search for answers to the ultimate and challenging question in life of ‘What does it mean to be human?’. The search for the answers to this question involve numerous challenging and provoking questions such as:

• What is God like? Is there a God?
• Where do we belong?
• What unites us?
• Where can we seek truth and meaning?
• Where can we find guidance about how to live our lives?

Religious Studies Curriculum Intent

The core aim of Religious Studies (RS) is to develop students’ religious literacy by deepening their knowledge, understanding, and skills in exploring a range of religious beliefs and worldviews. Students are encouraged to reflect, ask questions, and engage with some of life’s most important issues.

Religious Studies plays a vital role in our curriculum, helping students understand the diverse beliefs that shape the world around them. It fosters respect, empathy, and a recognition of the equality and dignity of all people. Within our Christian ethos, this is reflected in the teaching:
“There is neither Jew nor Gentile… for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). Through this, students learn to value different beliefs, challenge prejudice, and contribute positively to a respectful and inclusive society.

Religious Studies Curriculum Implementation

Key Stage Three

Key Stage Four

In Years ten and eleven, short course students study the AQA GCSE specification A, focusing on Christianity and Judaism. In this specification, students explore the key beliefs in Islam and Christianity and the two thematic units which are 'Religion, peace and conflict' and 'Relationships and families'.

From September 2026, all students will study full course Religious Studies.