Belonging to our Diocese

Belonging to our Diocese

“As a diocese, we are committed to the importance of formation for all the baptised throughout the whole of our lives so that we may all grow in our shared vocation to holiness and evangelisation…(and) give special attention to the accompaniment and formation of young people”

A Synodal Vision for the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle

Students at Cardinal Hume Catholic School are supported to see themselves as active and important parts of a Diocesan family who can support their spiritual growth. By actively cultivating a sense of diocesan membership, our students can broaden their perspectives and deepen their understanding of what it means to be part of the family of God.

Diocesan Youth Council

Cardinal Hume Catholic School has a number of students who are part of the strategic youth voice of the diocese. They act as representatives of their peers in school to help create a diocese in which young people be supported to grow in the fullness of Christ.

Diocesan Acts of Worship

· Twice each academic year, students from Cardinal Hume Catholic School attend “The Source” at the Cathedral, coming together with hundreds of other young people from across the diocese.

· Biannually, Sixth Form Students go with a diocesan delegation to “Flame” in London, the largest gathering of Catholic youth in the UK.

· Cardinal Hume students represent the school at a range of diocesan Masses and services across the academic year.

· With support from parishes, and increasing number of our Sixth form students are serving the sick as part of the diocesan Lourdes pilgrimage.

YMT

Students make the most of the YMT resources, visiting the Youth Village and we have even had some CHCS alumni going on to do internships with the team

Our RE curriculum follows the guidance of the “Know You More Clearly” Religious Education Directory for England and Wales.

Curriculum summary for website RE

“You must not only teach content, but the values and customs of life. There are three things that you must pass on. A computer can teach content, but to understand how to love, to understand values and customs which create harmony in society, it takes a good teacher.”

Pope Francis

We aim to help students develop outstanding knowledge and skills in Religious Education. We strive to ensure no pupil is left behind in achieving their full potential and will regularly check progress, providing assistance when barriers are met. We want our students to become masters of Religious Studies, confident in articulating their views and considered judgements. As a result of their religious studies, students should speak fluently, using a broad range of religious vocabulary. We want students to be curious, to question and challenge. Students will work hard and produce outstanding work, which will be celebrated and rewarded. Students at Cardinal Hume will show passion, enthusiasm and determination in their religious studies, they will require resilience and independence at times but can always rely on dedicated staff who will address misconceptions and give clear guidance on how they can improve. Students will reflect on their own faith and how it influences their actions. They will engage and respond to ethical issues and explore a range of opportunities to deepen and explore how religion and faith shape individuals.

Key Stage 3

Students at key stage 3 study six topics in each year group:

1. Creation and Covenant

2. Prophecy and Promise

3. Galilee to Jerusalem

4. Desert to Garden

5. To the Ends of the Earth

6. Dialogue and Encounter

Students journey from the moment of creation to the complete and full revelation of Jesus Christ, then on to how the early Church was established, eventually becoming the vibrant faith that is practised today by around 1.3 billion Catholics all over the world.

Students will investigate how the ancient stories told in the Bible continue to influence how modern Catholics live their lives today, guiding how they choose to live and interact with the world and with others. Students will look at how religion has inspired artists to express and communicate their feelings about God to others. As well as learning about these stories, students will be encouraged to reflect on their meaning and how they fit with their own beliefs and values.

Students will learn about the Bible, the key text of Christian faith, how it was written and how it has been translated and interpreted. Students will study other Christian denominations, major world faiths and non-religious attitudes.

The journey in key stage 3 will require students to develop a range of skills. They will be required to show understanding, make wise judgement based on a range of points of view. Students will be required to respond and reflect on their learning. They will be presented with an abundance of key vocabulary and should expect to include this in their responses. Students will complete a range of tasks to make accurate judgements on their progress.

Key Stage 4

Students in KS4 will prepare for their GCSE in religious studies. They will study Eduqas Route B Religious Studies. They will study 3 components:

Component 1: Foundational Catholic Theology

· Origins and Meaning

· Good and Evil

Component 2: Applied Catholic Theology

· Life and Death

· Sin and Forgiveness

Component 3: Judaism

· Beliefs

· Practices

Students will be asked to define a range of core vocabulary, give accurate descriptions which are developed by examples and sources of authority and explain how belief influences behaviour. Students will be required to consider a range of ethical scenarios and give balanced and justified opinions. They will also consider a range of other opinions and reach logical conclusions based on valid evaluation.

Key Stage 5

Students will study the OCR Religious Studies course. Our A Level in Philosophy and Ethics provides a coherent and thought-provoking programme of study. Students develop their understanding and appreciation of religious beliefs and teachings, as well as the disciplines of ethics and the philosophy of religion. Students will study 3 components:

Component 1: Philosophy of religion

Component 2: Religion and ethics

Component 3: Development in religious thought

Students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of religion and belief, including religious thought and teaching, approaches to the study of religion and belief. They will also analyse and evaluate aspects of, and approaches to, religion and belief, including their significance, influence and study.