Religious & Integrated Studies

Visits to Places of Worship

Throughout Key Stage 3, students will visit a range of places of worship including Newcastle Presbyterian Church, Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, Newcastle Methodist Church, St John’s Church of  Ireland, Newcastle Baptist Church and many places of worship of other faiths.

 

Key Stage 4

Religion is a compulsory part of the Northern Ireland curriculum at both Key Stages 3 and 4. Therefore, as part of their studies, students will complete a number of ’Religion Days’ in Years 11 and 12. These days will encourage students to consider the big philosophical questions in life and to gain an understanding of different belief systems. It is an excellent opportunity to show integration in action.

 

GCSE Religious Studies

Moreover, students may choose to complete a GCSE in Religious Studies. We use CCEA and follow the  Religious Ethics and Philosophy of Religion units. The GCSE is excellent for developing a wide range of skills including critical thinking, analysis and interpretation.  

 

A Level

At Shimna, we offer a popular A Level in Philosophy and Ethics. Exploring some of the greatest minds from the Ancient Greeks until the present day, dealing with the biggest ethical questions facing society, the course is challenging, enriching and worthwhile.  

As the fastest growing AS/A2 in the UK, qualifications in Philosophy & Ethics provide suitable foundation for further study at University in a number of areas such as Religious Studies, Philosophy or Theology.

In addition, our students obtain a wide range of skills such as analysis, interpretation, critical thinking as well as the ability to produce extended evaluative pieces of writing & participate in oral debate.

Former students have gone on to successful careers in journalism, law, nursing and medicine, teaching and the theatre.

 

Extra-curricular offer

 

As well as our academic offer, we complete a number of extracurricular activities throughout the year.

 

• Each November, our students host All Children’s Integrated Primary School for a Remembrance Day assembly. We then show respect for each other’s culture and traditions by laying a wreath at the Cenotaph in Newcastle.

• At Christmas, we organise a choir of jolly students to spread Christmas cheer at local residential and nursing homes.

• The Carol Service gives students another opportunity to display their talents when we pack out St John’s Church of Ireland on the last day of term.

• In recent years, we have secured IEF funding to complete a video documentary exploring the experiences of minority religions in Northern Ireland. This was an excellent opportunity for students to work with a professional filmmaker and meet some inspirational people. The documentary can be viewed at: tiny.cc/shimna

 

What we do well

 

• As a growing department which has undergone change in recent terms, we are proud of the popularity of our GCSE and A Level. For the previous two years, our GCSE has been oversubscribed and we currently have 25 students sitting A Level Philosophy and Ethics.

• We are also very proud of our links with the local community. Through our visits, concerts, projects and outreach work, we have the opportunity to show our neighbours what we already know; just how wonderful our students are.