• Greater empathy and respect for others, reducing prejudice and promoting inclusion.

• Improved moral reasoning and ability to make thoughtful, ethical decisions.

• Stronger sense of social responsibility and active participation in civic life.

• Enhanced communication, literacy, and debate skills, useful across subjects and future careers.

• Increased ability to interpret complex texts, including sacred writings, philosophical arguments, and legal principles.

• A more informed and reflective worldview, helping students navigate complex global and moral issues.

• Development of academic resilience, independent thinking, and the ability to engage with challenging content at a high level.

BTEC Tech in Health & Social Care

• Enhancing Information Literacy: Learners develop the ability to find, evaluate, and apply health and social care information effectively.

• Promoting Critical Thinking: Students analyse and evaluate care scenarios to make informed, evidence-based decisions.

• Encouraging Lifelong Learning: The course inspires ongoing personal and professional development through exposure to diverse career pathways.

• Developing Digital Competence: Learners use digital tools to research, present, and communicate within health and social care contexts.

• Fostering Collaboration and Communication: Group tasks and role-play activities build teamwork and empathetic communication skills.

GCSE Citizenship

GCSE Belief & Ethics (Short Course)

BTEC Tech Award Health & Social Care

A-Level Philosophy, Religion & Ethics

The assessment schedule for Core RCS varies depending on the subject and is carefully designed to evaluate students’ understanding of the material covered. Across all areas of Core RCS, assessments are structured to build on prior knowledge and give students meaningful opportunities to demonstrate their learning.

At Key Stage 3, the style of questioning is designed to prepare students for the types of questions they’ll encounter at GCSE and A level, helping them become familiar and confident with exam formats early on. In-class formative assessments include quizzes, questioning, exit tickets and group activities, while summative assessments take the form of tests and other structured tasks that allow students to showcase their knowledge.

At GCSE and A level, students complete regular assessments through practice exam questions, in addition to the ongoing formative assessments embedded throughout the RCS curriculum. Assessments are strategically placed throughout the academic year - typically at the end of topics and, where appropriate, at key midpoints - to monitor progress and guide further learning.

A strong emphasis is placed on developing students’ writing skills, ensuring they are well-prepared for formal examinations.

Students taking the BTEC Tech Award in Health and Social Care are assessed through a combination of internally assessed coursework (60% of overall grade) and an externally assessed exam (40% of overall grade). The course includes three components: two are assessed through assignments set and marked by the school, while the third is a synoptic examination set by Pearson, testing students' application of knowledge in realistic scenarios.

Students are given regular examination practice questions for home learning, enabling ongoing formative assessment and supporting preparation for the external examinations held in the summer of Year 11. To ensure that coursework for the internally assessed components is of a high standard, mock coursework tasks are embedded into the curriculum to strengthen extended writing skills. Weekly quizzes are also incorporated to secure knowledge retention and long-term understanding.

GCSE Exam Board: Citizenship - AQA

GCSE Exam Board: Religious Studies (Short course) - AQA

BTEC Exam Board: Pearson

A-Level Exam Board: Religious Studies - OCR

Home learning at KS3 consists of 2 quizzes per unit of work, one around lesson 3 of the unit, and one at the end of each unit, designed to support units with their end of unit assessments.

GCSE Citizenship students have 5 Past Paper Questions and 5 quizzes per module. These are issued alternately and correspond to the content provided in lessons to ensure students are well prepared to complete the home learning tasks.

GCSE Belief and Ethics offers a range of home learning opportunities, including past paper questions, opportunities for further reading and research as well as quizzes - these are set periodically in line with department policy.

BTEC Tech in Health & Social Care: From Year 10, Home learning is assigned on a weekly basis and primarily consists of examination practice questions. This ensures that students engage in consistent preparation for their external examination, which takes place in the summer of Year 11 and forms a smaller component with reduced teaching time. To maintain the highest quality of home learning, students self-assess their work using mark schemes, and all completed tasks are collated in dedicated Home Learning folders to support both revision and exam preparation in Year 11.

At A level students are required to produce flash cards and summary notes in preparation for summative assessments at the end of each module. They will be asked to complete a range of tasks including reading comprehension, wider reading and research on specific subject areas and listening to podcasts, as examples.

Students in RCS are offered a wide range of opportunities for enrichment and personal development. One such opportunity is the Social Enterprise Club, which meets weekly and empowers students to explore and address social issues that matter to them. A recent focus has been on environmental concerns, such as improving recycling practices within the school and local community.

Students are also encouraged to take part in the Next Gen Leaders (NGL) programme, which raises awareness of key societal issues and inspires students to take meaningful action to improve our local area. The NGL team has had a particularly successful year, earning recognition and an award for their impactful work.

To support academic success, GCSE and A level students have access to regular intervention sessions and revision support throughout the year. These sessions are designed to reinforce learning and build confidence ahead of exams.

In addition, GCSE students benefit from a variety of educational trips. This year’s plans include a visit to Rome for both GCSE and A level students, as well as trips to the Crown Court and Town Council for those studying GCSE Citizenship - offering real-world insights into law and local government.

As part of the BTEC Tech in Health & Social Care students visit Barnsley Metrodome for the ‘We Care into the Future’ event, which showcases the wide range of careers available within health and social care. In addition to health-related professions, the event highlights the many essential support roles within the sector, including communications and marketing, business administration, IT, catering, and more.

As part of National Apprenticeship Week, students participate in the NHS Apprenticeship Discovery Session, where apprentices share their career journeys and experiences of undertaking an apprenticeship. This informative session is designed to support students in exploring the diverse pathways within the Health and Social Care sector and in identifying the most suitable route for their future career aspirations.

Career Areas for Students of Religious Studies, Citizenship, and Philosophy & Ethics

• Education & Academia

(e.g. Teacher, Lecturer, Educational Advisor)

• Law, Government & Policy

(e.g. Lawyer, Civil Servant, Police officer, MP, Crime Scene Analyst)

• Charity & Social Justice

(e.g. NGO Worker, Human Rights Advocate, Community Coordinator)

• Faith-Based & Interfaith Work

(e.g. Chaplain, Religious Leader, Interfaith Officer)

• Ethics & Corporate Responsibility

(e.g. Ethics Consultant, Corporate Social Responsibility Officer, Bioethics Advisor)

• Media & Communication

(e.g. Journalist, PR Specialist, Content Creator)

• Social & Community Services

(e.g. Social Worker, Youth Worker, Probation Officer)

• International Relations & Aid

(e.g. Diplomatic Officer, Aid Worker, Cultural Liaison)