PRG
Curriculum Narrative: Philosophy, Religion and Government at Harris Academy Greenwich
PRG as a part of the National Curriculum
PRG at KS3 comprises a weekly lesson in which all Religious Education, Citizenship and Sex and Relationships content will be taught to students.
The National Curriculum for Religious Education in England can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/religious-education-guidance-in-english-schools-non-statutory-guidance-2010
The minutiae of the Religious Education curricula is stipulated by locally-appointed SACRE boards who provide guidance for all schools on the content for religion lessons within local boroughs. The Greenwich SACRE approved content for RE can be found here:
The National Curriculum for Citizenship in England can be found here:
The National Curriculum for Personal, Social and Health Education in England can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-social-health-and-economic-education-pshe
The Intentions Behind our PRG Curriculum
The purpose of PRG at Harris Academy Greenwich is: Students of Philosophy, Religion & Government shouldâ¯masterâ¯the powerful knowledge necessary toâ¯bothâ¯excel in public examinations,â¯hone written and oral skills,â¯and become productive members of society who can live safe, happy and successful lives.â¯
Further to the above curriculum intent, the PRG lessons at Harris Academy Greenwich have been designed achieve the following:
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To meet our legal obligation to instil within our students knowledge and understanding of RE, Citizenship and PSHE. This ensures that our students are accessing the information that has been designated by the government as essential knowledge for all English students to have been taught.
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We fulfil our moral obligation to do all that we can to shape our students in ways that allow them to be productive members of our diverse and multi-cultural society, by ensuring that our students develop an understanding of religion and philosophy and citizenship and government during their time in school.
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We provide our students with the knowledge to go out into the world being knowledgeable of the cultural and religious beliefs that affect so much of daily life, from annual holidays to the basis of British law.
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We provide students with knowledge of their rights and role within our democratic governmental system and empower them to participate in governmental processes.
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We educate students to safely and compassionately communicate with each other in all their relationships: professional, personal and intimate.
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We instruct students on how to budget their finances in order to ensure their future financial stability.
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Overall, we hope that the future leaders, business owners and compassionate citizens that make up our school population will be all the more successful due to their understanding of others afforded to them by our PRG curriculum. After all, knowledge is power.
It is important to note that all lesson content is taught in an objective manner, and adjusted to meet the needs and requirements of the particular age group being taught. PRG is not designed to implement a particular political, religious or ethical viewpoint on students, rather it is designed to offer knowledge of religion, government and health in order for students to make up their own minds on these topics. Students can therefore explore the lesson content without being taught that there is one “right” set of beliefs or ethical behaviours.
Skills taught via PRG
Lessons for all year groups focus on building the key skills of:
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High standards of literacy – reading, writing, punctuation and grammar.
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Discussion and the ability to express one’s own personal views, whilst debating with those who disagree with us.
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Being able to read and interpret meaning from religious scriptures, allowing students to encounter ancient texts and consider how the content of these texts affect the daily lives of religious believers. This is a matter of cultural capital and social inclusion – so much of academia is underpinned by religious beliefs that it is assumed that citizens of the world will have some awareness of. By delivering these lessons to our students, we are confident that they will be able to better access information in the media, further education and conversation with their peers due to an increased understanding of the religions and cultures of the world.
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Students will also consider the influence of religious beliefs on those who have faith and how this translates into religious practice, which furthers practical knowledge of how to relate to religious believers when they encounter them in the real world and ensures our students are able to show respect for and tolerance of beliefs that may be different from their own.
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Finally, as a humanities subject, PRE builds student’s abilities to evaluate a concept based on evidence. The basic tenets of academic argument come from being able to argue for different sides of an issue, supporting the argument with sources and examples. Therefore, PRE offers students an opportunity to build their evaluation skills in writing and oral form as they are invited to consider beliefs for and against ethical and philosophical issues and draw their own conclusions.
The Content of PRG Lessons at Harris Academy Greenwich
Year 7:
In half term one, students are offered and introduction to world religion by studying the differences between monotheistic belief systems, polytheistic belief systems, and non-theistic belief systems. The SRE (Sex and Relationship Education) content for this half term focuses on the nature of bullying and what to do if one is experiencing bullying.
In half term two, students will study Christian beliefs, specifically looking at beliefs around the nature of God and the Trinity, focusing on the importance of the life of Jesus, his birth, death and resurrection. The SRE content for this half term focuses on safe and appropriate behaviour online.
In half term three, students will study Christian practices, including prayer, worship, rituals such as communion and baptism, and the major festivals celebrated by Christians. The SRE content for this half term introduces students to sexual health and wellbeing.
In half term four, students will study Islamic beliefs, including the monotheistic nature of Allah, the role of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the significance of the Qur’an for Muslims. The SRE content for this half term focuses on physical health and healthy diet.
In half term five, students will study Islamic practices, with a focus on the Five Pillars of Islam within the Sunni tradition (declaration of faith, daily prayers, giving to charity, fasting during Ramadan, attending the Hajj) and the major festivals of Islam. The SRE content for this half term focuses on stable family relationships and the ways that children should be educated in the home.
In half term six, students will study Citizenship and Government, focusing on the nature of British democracy, the way parliament operates within the UK and the rights that UK citizens hold. The SRE content for this half term is focused on careers and the educational routes that are required for specific career paths.
Year 8:
In half term one, students study Citizenship and Government, with a focus on the justice system and the role of the police within the UK. Students also study personal finance and budgeting. The SRE content for this half term focuses on making and maintaining positive friendships.
In half term two, students will learn about Buddhist beliefs, with a focus on the person of the Buddha, the Four Noble Truths, the doctrine of impermanence and beliefs about the afterlife. The SRE content for this half term focuses on staying safe online, good conduct on social media, and the ways that young people are presented in the media.
In half term three, students will learn about Buddhist practices, with a focus on the practices recommended by the Noble Eightfold Path, the nature of renunciation and the role of monasticism, and the doctrine of ahimsa (non-violence). The SRE content for this half term focuses on healthy romantic relationships, including those of a sexual nature.
In half term four, students will learn about Hindu beliefs, including the nature of God and the gods od Buddhism, the Trimurti and its role within Hindu belief, the story of creation, and the story of Rama and Sita. The SRE content for this half term focuses on mental illnesses, self-harm and eating disorders and other unhealthy coping strategies.
In half term five, students will learn about Hindu practices, including the role of dharma (living a life guided by truth), ahimsa (non-violence), and festivals and celebrations. The SRE content for this half term focuses on familial relationships and the nature of relationships in the home.
In half term six, students will learn about life’s journey, including beliefs about life and death in Buddhism and Hinduism. Students will consider the teachings on the afterlife, and any birth and death rites from within these religious traditions. The SRE content for this half term focuses on career options and routes.
Year 9:
In half term one, students will study Citizenship and Government, with a focus on democracy and the relationship between Britain, Europe and the rest of the world. The SRE content for this half term focuses on respectful relationships, including friendships and sexual relationships. This includes identifying sexual abuse and harassment of both a heterosexual and LGBTQ+ nature and how to respond to these issues.
In half term two, students will study the key beliefs of Judaism, focusing on the nature of scriptural laws conveyed to Noah and within the Mitzvot, as well as studying the nature of God and the afterlife. The SRE content for this term focuses on the topic of sex in the media and on social media, what to do if you have received a sexually explicit image or are being encouraged to produce and sex sexually explicit images, and focus on identity and self-esteem online.
In half term three, students will study the key practices of Judaism, including clothing and dietary laws, keeping the law, the celebration of festivals and rituals including the Sader, and birth and coming of age rituals. The SRE content for this term includes sexual health education, focusing on the choice to abstain from sex, and education regarding contraception and safe sex.
In half term four, students will study the key beliefs of Sikhism, including the roles of Gurus, the importance of the text of the Guru Granth Sahib and how Sikhs have a personal relationship with God. The SRE content for this half term includes learning about substance abuse and how to respond to peer pressure in relation to these issues.
In half term five, students will study the key practices of Sikhism, focusing on the 5 symbols worn by Sikhs ordained to the Khalsa, the duties of Sikhs to pray, work and give and the charitable nature of Sikhism. The SRE content for this half term focuses on committed and stable relationships at home and within the family.
In half term six, students will study life’s journey through the lens of Sikh and Jewish beliefs, looking at beliefs in the afterlife, scriptural teachings and birth and death rites. The SRE content for this half term focuses on career pathways, the routes required to enter these pathways, and the nature of higher education beyond GCSEs.
Year 10:
In half term one, students will study Citizenship and Government with a focus on democracy in the UK and the nature of human rights. Students also study personal finance and budgeting. The SRE content for this term focuses on identity, self-confidence and identity in relationships, including friendships and intimate relationships.
In half term two, students will explore the Rise of Atheism in the UK, with a focus on the changing nature of the religious makeup of Britain, and the separation of church and state. Students will study the intellectual enlightenment and how this birthed academic atheists such as Richard Dawkins. The SRE content for this half term focuses on body image and the media, and the presentation of sexual behaviour in the media leading to distorted views of sex and sexual relationships.
In half term three, students will explore the relationship between religion and science, with a focus on medical debates such as the issues of abortion and euthanasia, and Christian attitudes towards these issues. The SRE content for this half term focuses on contraceptive choices and the dangers of unprotected sex, as well as the study of gender norms, sexual ethics and LGBTQ+ issues.
In half term four, students will explore contemporary expressions of religion, including the study of contemporary monastic communities, and the effect that postmodernism has had on religious belief in the UK. The SRE content for this half term focuses on the laws around sexual consent and abuse.
In half term five, students will explore religious views of issues of equality – namely, the issues of race and gender. Students will explore attitudes to these issues within the Christian and Islamic traditions. The SRE content for this half term focuses on support for families who are encountering difficulties in the home, including support during bereavement and the impact of domestic abuse.
In half term six, students will explore issues surrounding the presentation of Christians and Muslims within the UK media, including stereotyping and Islamophobia. The SRE content for this half term focuses on finance and making good financial decisions.
Years 11-13 are offered PRG content via assemblies and drop-down days throughout the year in accordance with the recommended minimum of 4 hours study per year within OFSTED guidelines.
Please note: further information on the content of PRG lessons can be found on the one-page curriculum map for PRG.
Please contact Ruth Wood (Lead teacher of PRG), and Laura Fitzsimmons (Lead teacher of SRE and KS3 Coordinator) for further questions about the curriculum.
