Religious Education

Religious Education at Bradford Forster Academy

Through teaching with excellence and modelling exemplary behaviour, the Religious Education department strives to challenge, motivate and inspire greatness in our students enabling them to become outstanding and ambitious for themselves. In a world that is rapidly becoming a global village, we encourage all our students to learn about and from different religions, beliefs and traditions (including humanist views) so that they can develop an understanding of their role within a diverse and inclusive community. We also look to explore the nature of faith and the influence that faith, or a lack of faith, can bring to our student’s lives. 

We aim to promote an awareness of the usefulness of RE to everyday living and to develop aspirational, confident and caring young people who have the belief, knowledge and skills to make a positive contribution to society.  In doing so, we aspire to enthuse and empower our students; igniting within them a sense of awe and wonder and enabling them to continue their journey in life as well-rounded and well-informed global citizens with the knowledge that ‘everything is possible for one who believes’. (Mark 9:23) 

In partnership with our strong Christian foundations and high-quality teaching and learning practice, Religious Education at Bradford Forster Academy encourages students to become:

Ambitious for themselves.
Academically successful.
Inquisitive and reflective learners.
Active and effective participants.

Confident communicators.
Emotionally resilient.
Inspiring to others.
Culturally and socially aware.

Religious Education is sequenced to allow students to build their knowledge and skills over time by:

Providing a high-quality, all-round education, delivering valuable learning opportunities and experiences for all students, including those with SEND and specific talents
Providing young people with opportunities to hold balanced and well-informed conversations about religion and belief using a framework of the three disciplines of theology, philosophy and human/social sciences. In simpler terms, believing, thinking and living
Providing glossaries, opportunities for reading, discussion and debate, encouraging writing with confidence and developing numeracy with the use of statistics
Recognising the importance of digital literacy by affording them the opportunity to access digital hardware and software for homework tasks and in lesson

Religious Education provides students with opportunities for them to develop the habits and skills needed to succeed in life during and after BFA by:

Providing students with a safe space to discuss their thoughts and ideas on the world around us, while reflecting on their own lives in this process
Promoting an appreciation of, and respect for, different religions, cultures and viewpoints
Developing skills of empathy, understanding and kindness to equip students for life in a diverse modern Britain
Delivering a breadth of curriculum across key stages 3 and 4, that enhances cultural capital by immersing students into a range of cultures, religions and lived experiences
Supporting the development of students by nurturing spirituality, morality, and allowing students to understand how they can contribute to school and the wider community
Providing enrichment opportunities and the opportunities to work with outside organisations to allow for a rich understanding of the nature of faith in modern Britain
Providing students with an insight into how life works in our community, our city and in the wider world

In achieving this, we endeavour to support our students in breaking through limited horizons and becoming confident, effective, and employable citizens within the context of the local community of BD4, Bradford and beyond

Curriculum Plan - Core RE

Curriculum Plan - GCSE Religious Studies

Right to Withdraw:
Parents have the right to withdraw their children from RE on the grounds that they wish to make their own provision. This alternative will be the parents’ responsibility. This right of withdrawal exists for all pupils in all types of school, including schools with and without a religious designation. Students aged 18 or over have the right to withdraw themselves from RE. Parents also have the right to withdraw their child from part of RE and can do so without giving any explanation.

Religious Education