Religious Studies
Dr Richard Hoskins has been a University lecturer for the past 10 years and joins Shebbear College from King’s College London to teach Religious Studies and French.
Richard went to Uppingham and Bedford Schoolsbefore heading off to Africa as a young volunteer at the time of the first Live Aid appeal. There he remained for six years instead of six months. When he finally returned he went up to Oxford University to read Theology, where he took a First class. Three years later he completed his PhD in Religious Studies at London University, and went from there to be a Senior Lecturer at Bath Spa University, before moving to King’s.
In 2003 Richard married old Shebbearian Faith Warner, one of the first girls to go through the school and who is a tutor in Psychology at Exeter University. Faith’s family live near Shebbear, and Richard and Faith are delighted to have moved back down here. They have a young 5 month old son, Silas.
Whilst at King’s Richard often appeared on radio and television to give expert comment on religious affairs, and presented a BBC2 Documentary on new churches. After advising on child protection policies he decided he wanted to ‘make a difference’ by teaching children instead of adults.
Welcome
Staff
Overview
Facilities
In the Classroom
Beyond the Classroom
Dr Richard Hoskins
Dr Hoskins is delighted to take on the challenge of stretching children academically in a subject that requires us tothink seriously about the contemporary world, whilst at the same time encouraging them to enjoy the subject.
Department Staff
- All staff
Department Overview
Religious Studies at Shebbear College is seen as an academic pursuit in the same way as any other subject. We foster the good practice of learning to respect other people’s beliefs, whilst at the same time encouraging the development of personal growth. Christianity is studied as the core religion through all key stages, as befitting a Church foundation school. At the same time we study a selection from the other five ‘world religions’ of Judaism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism and Hinduism as well as non-believing responses to the meaning of life. Studying more than one religion enables pupils to learn comparative skills and to discern both commonality and difference. Understanding the real significance of religious ideas, practices and values in today's global, multi-cultural society helps in any career which involves dealing with people.
Facilities
The department has a functional classroom with the necessary resources for learning in place. Religious Studies is taught using the latest audio-visual equipment in an interactive learning environment.
In the Classroom
At key stage 3 (1st form to 3rd form) the rigorous scheme of work takes pupils through understanding religion; authority in Christianity; Christian commitment and rites of passage; justice and peace; Sikhism, equal rights and employment legislation; the family in Judaism; contemporary issues; belief and suffering including Buddhist and Hindu approaches; and finally religion and the media using Islam as a case study.
At key stage 4 (4th and 5th form) students study for the Edexcel GCSE short course: ‘Religion and Life a study of Christianity and Islam’.
At 6th form Religious Studies is offered as a rigorous academic subject with a compulsory Philosophy unit. Students take the AQA paper either to AS (one year) or A2 (two year) level. The course offers a dynamic study of religion in contemporary society and is ideally suited for those going on to study Religious Studies, Law, Philosophy, Theology, Sociology and Social Sciences as well as any career involving people.
Beyond the Classroom
Wherever possible pupils are encouraged to attend school trips to places of faith such as local churches and the Exeter synagogue.
The subject matter of ‘religions’ inevitably raises sometimes profound questions of the meaning of life. Students are supported in their development of learning ‘from religion’, and this takes place in the overall framework of the school’s caring pupil-centred approach. Important to this is liaison with the chaplain, the PSE co-ordinator, and the common life of the school focused on the chapel.
