Westholme School - Ethics, Philosophy and Religion

Ethics, Philosophy and Religion

Year 7: Year 7 forms part of a transitional period from childhood to young personhood; Origins, Stories, Myths reflects this. As pupils begin school life in Year 7, they will explore religion through its stories.

Year 8:
After studying Origins, Stories and Myths of religion (Year 7) students will now be introduced to beliefs and practices of the major religions - Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism.

Year 9 : Year 9 students should now have a firm foundation from which to explore and consider theology and its questions, issues, expressions and encounters with the realities of the world.

GCSE Religious Studies (WJEC board). GCSE students gain an excellent understanding of what is going on globally and in their own society. They are encouraged to have independent minds, be highly confident in discussion, have the ability to offer balanced and rational viewpoints and be academically sound. With these skills, the GCSE is an asset on any CV.

A Level Religious Studies Students are enabled to explore the fascinating philosophical questions of life and think independently. They must also engage with the complex issues facing societies. The students in 2007 explored Jewish-Christian relations, and students travelled to Berlin in order to reflect on the events and ideologies of the twentieth century. They then visited Krakow and ended their stay in central Europe by visiting Auschwitz . Their reflections ended with a pilgrimage on Holy Island.
Students will also prepare for life at university by participating in academic seminars run by visiting speakers including: Dr. Alan Billings, BBC Radio 4's Thought for the Day speaker. For those applying to study Philosophy / Theology at university, interview tuition is offered.

Extra-curricular opportunities:

Year 7: Ancient Fire Making. This experience of the ancient fire making tradition underpins the very essence of the Year 7 curriculum, Origins, Stories, Myths.

Year 8: Hindu Shrines Competition / Sacred Places Trip.

Year 9: "The Journey Course" which explores questions of philosophy, faith and spirituality.

Years 10/11: JAC Team work (Justice Awareness Charity). Westholme has always been keen to support all sorts of charities, and this term was no exception. Various groups were highly original in their fund-raising projects and huge fun was had by all at the same time. All these activities show the commitment and determination of our pupils to help others and get involved in the wider community. In Year 10 Kenyan Priests visit the EPR class. Father Steven and his colleagues visited the EPR GCSE lesson and with much humour and intelligence explained their work in Africa. Year 11 EPR students visit "Samye Ling" a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery as part of their work on Buddhism.

Sixth Form Opportunities: Students experience grass-roots communities: journeying to Leicester, EPR students visited the vibrant city of Leicester which is renowned for its multiculturalism and is a successful model of integration. There was also a Philosophy Evening following the study of this complex Ontological Argument.

SACRED PLACES TRIP

Westholme's Year 8 pupils made a sacred places trip recently to Blackburn Cathedral, a Hindu temple in Bolton and a mosque in Blackburn. The girls were warmly welcomed as they took their study of world religions from the classroom into the real world. The subject was brought alive by the sounds, sights, smells and even the tastes of different cultures and religions.

In the mosque the girls heard the Adhan, the call to prayer being demonstrated. They were also taught how to perform Wuzu the ritual ablutions performed by Muslims before prayer and worship.

At the Cathedral, pupils gained an insight into how medieval pilgrims would have been awestruck by the size and splendour of the mighty works of art. They then had time to use this holy space to reflect upon those in need in our world.

Finally the girls were treated to a meal at the Hindu temple and got to see the temple shrine with its array of symbols. They understood the gods and goddesses to be manifestations of just one God who Hindus call Brahman. Then, with a few bruised knuckles, pupils got to dance some traditional Indian stick dances.

During the day the girls heard messages of hope and peace in all the places visited. It gave an insight into our rich multi-cultural and multi-religious country and experience first hand the feelings of unity and diversity that exist in our country.

JAC Team's Movie Night

What a Westholme wonderland the JAC Team's Night at the Movies turned out to be! Year 7 girls were invited to dress up and watch Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. School became a place of white rabbits, Alices and Mad Hatters! The Year 10 JAC team did a superb job in transforming the theatre into a cinema and the stalls at the interval were creative and colourful and all lit by fairylights which gave school a magical feel.

Thank you to all staff for dressing up and providing the entertainment at the end of Movie Night - it really was wonderful evening. All monies raised will be split between three deserving charities.