Religious Education

Led by: S Raettig

We provide an academic RE curriculum that enables students to have the skills, knowledge and understanding to engage in respectful dialogue about philosophical, religious, and ethical issues.  Religion and Philosophy is the foundation of culture and therefore studying religion and philosophy is vital in helping students to understand society’s beliefs, morals, and values. We draw inspiration from the North Yorkshire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education and fuse this with knowledge, understanding and application of Fundamental British Values. This approach engenders an appreciation of the values that exist within society and allows students to reflect on their own personal beliefs, morals, and values in a safe and supportive environment. 
We want the students at Norton College to become successful learners, confident individuals, and responsible citizens. We achieve this through provoking questions about the ultimate meaning and purpose of life, beliefs about God, the self and the nature of reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human. We want our young people to develop their sense of identity and belonging, and to flourish as individuals within their communities and as citizens in a diverse and global community. Religious Education has  an important role in preparing students for adult life, employment, and lifelong learning. We aim to enable them to develop respect for, and sensitivity towards others, especially those whose faith and beliefs are different from their own.
The RE Department is led by a specialist teacher, ably supported by two additional members of the teaching staff. It is our aim to promote learning in a lively and engaging way that combines fun with academic rigour. Central to the delivery of RE is the opportunity to visit places of worship – such local churches, a Sikh Gurdwara and an Islamic Mosque in Bradford and a local Buddhist centre. We also run an overseas residential trip to the Netherlands in Year 8 as a key component in our unit “Where was God in the Holocaust?”
“Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no-one is watching.” C. S. Lewis