Oxford Open Learning launches brand new GCSE Religious Studies course
As part of its planned expansion of GCSE and IGCSE subject choices for home educated students, Oxford Home Schooling has now launched its brand new GCSE course in Religious Studies.
Developed to the requirements of the AQA GCSE Religious Studies B specification, Ethics, Philosophy and Religion in Society, the course offers students a rich opportunity to study six of the world’s main religions in the context of our daily lives. Written by Cynthia Bartlett, series editor of the AQA GCSE Religious studies textbooks published by Nelson Thorne’s and AQA examiner, the course is packed full of activities, self-assessment tests and tutor-marked assignments that encourage the student actively to engage with religious and ethical issues that we encounter every day in modern society, and evaluate opinions and actions through contemporary case studies.
What’s in the course?
Of the six possible units of study listed in the specification, the Oxford Home Schooling course offers Unit 1: Religion and Citizenship, and Unit 6: Worship and Key Beliefs. Each Unit of study leads towards an exam that is worth half a GCSE. The exams may be taken separately or together, and both must be passed to achieve a full GCSE.
Unit 1 topics include:
1 Religion and Relationships
2 Religion, Sport and Leisure
3 Religion and Work
4 Religion and the Multicultural Society
5 Religion and Human Rights
These are studied with reference to six religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism.
Unit 6 topics include:
1 Places of Worship
2 Worship
3 Pilgrimage
4 Origins and Beliefs
5 Practices and Belonging
Students study each of these with reference to two religions. They may opt for the same two religions throughout the Unit, or study two different religions (out of the six named above) in relation to each topic.
How is the course organised?
The course begins with an introductory lesson to each unit and includes wide range of activities in each lesson. Half of the 22 lessons conclude with a self-assessment test, and the remainder with a tutor-marked assignment. The course also includes a tutor-marked mock exam for each unit.
To participate in all course activities, students should have access to the internet.
How do I enrol?
There are no prior requirements for the course, so you do not need to have studied the subject before. If you would like to find out more about the course, please contact one of our student advisers who will be pleased to help you.
