Religion and Society

Community & Curriculum

At the heart of our RS department and provision is the concept of community, enabling the study of Citizenship to book end and frame our core RE provision within each year group, carefully sequenced to enrichen and contextualise the study of both subjects with a golden thread running through each year.

In KS3, all students receive one hour of Religion & Society per week which is delivered by a team of RS specialists. The first half term of each year begins with a Citizenship focus that frames the golden thread for that year. This is followed with 4 half terms of bespoke RE which from September 2025 will conclude with a final Citizenship unit to conclude each year group provision.

In KS4, from September 2025, all students will go on to study Religion & Society and Life Skills (PSHE) as two bespoke provisions delivered in two distinct half year carousels over 1 hour a week. Students also have the option of studying GSCE Religious Studies as an option choice for 3 hours a week.

Community, Character, Culture and Personal Development

The pit head on our school badge reminds us that the local history of our Westhoughton community is deeply rooted in working hard and working together to overcome challenges, and at times disaster by ‘looking after each other’ and ensuring that ‘nobody is ever left behind’. Therefore, a key aim of the Religion & Society department is turning learning into meaningful action and inspiring the next generation of ‘community champions’ and ‘leaders’.

Therefore, beyond the classroom, the Religion and Society department challenges all our students and staff to come together at seasonal times of year to celebrate our diversity, recognise our shared human experiences and respond courageously, creatively and compassionately, to the issues and causes that are important to our students, staff and wider community.

This is exemplified by our leadership of two major community initiatives:

• Let’s Share Christmas – A whole school and community wide campaign addressing seasonal poverty, loneliness and inclusion.
• Bring the Spring – A celebration of hope and renewal that connects generations and cultures through art, faith and action.

Each year, these whole school initiatives give all our students and staff the opportunity to contribute and share our LEARN values with the community our school serves. Hundreds of students and staff contribute each year whilst dozens of students lead and facilitate this work. Each year over 100 students, representing every form group, year group and key group will also typically go out into the local community to share their kindness, one to another.

“By their fruits they shall be known” (Matthew 7:16)