Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies

The RMPS department delivers a well-balanced and differentiated curriculum for all pupils.

The aims of the department are:

To enable pupils to investigate and understand the questions and answers that religions can offer about the nature and meaning of existence.
To encourage pupils to develop a consistent set of beliefs and values which are the result of a personal process of growth, search and discovery.
To bring religion alive to the pupils and to foster an attitude of respect, understanding and tolerance as well as awe and wonder.

Why is religious and moral education important for all children and young people?

RMPS enables young people to explore the world’s major religions and views which are independent of religious belief and to consider the challenges posed by these beliefs and values. It supports them in developing and reflecting upon their values and their capacity for moral judgement. Through developing awareness and appreciation of the value of each individual in a diverse society religious and moral education engenders responsible attitudes to other people. This awareness and appreciation will assist in counteracting prejudice and intolerance as children and young people consider issues such as sectarianism and discrimination more broadly.

“Religious and moral education is a process where children and young people engage in a search for meaning and value and purpose in life. This involves both the exploration of beliefs and values and the study of how such beliefs and values are expressed”.
(Building the curriculum 1)

Learning through religious and moral education enables children and young people to:

• recognise religion as an important expression of human experience
• learn about and from the beliefs, values, practices and traditions of religions selected for study, other traditions and viewpoints independent of religious belief
• recognise and understand religious diversity
• explore and establish values such as wisdom, justice, compassion and integrity and engage in the development of and reflection upon their own moral values
• develop the skills of reflection, discernment, critical thinking and deciding how to act when making moral decisions