23 Crossfield Road, Hampstead,
London, NW3 4NU
London, NW3 4NU
Curriculum - Religious Studies
This subject is taught throughout the school and benefits from discrete timetabled lessons in all Year groups. The department is well resourced and has its own teaching room in the Senior School. In the Junior School, there is a separate subject co-ordinator who meets regularly with the Head of Department.
In Religious Studies lessons at The Hall, we engage in the study of religions as an academic discipline and the teaching style is therefore completely objective; it is not the task of the department to promote any specific faith. This approach has helped to establish the popularity of the subject and encourages boys of all faith backgrounds to continue with it at their senior schools; significant numbers of our former pupils go on to take GCSE and ‘A’ level.
The course follows broadly the format of the syllabus devised by the Independent Schools’ Religious Studies Association (ISRSA) and covers:-
In the final two years, there are a few options available, so that from time to time a boy is enabled to study topics which are of particular interest to him.
Many Year 7 pupils opt to study specific aspects of a world religion in detail; this will include a visit to a place of worship, interviewing practitioners of that faith and then producing a piece of coursework based on their findings.
Thus, all pupils leaving The Hall should have an understanding of why religion is a major influence on the lives of most people in the world, how the various main religions are practised and they will have been encouraged to develop a tolerant attitude to the beliefs of others.
Spirituality
Outside the classroom, opportunities exist for boys to develop their own spiritual lives should they wish to do so. Those who are practising Christians may choose to attend after-school classes in Christian Formation, which allows them not only to learn more about their own religion but also gives them the opportunity to reflect upon their own faith.
There is a Jewish Society which meets for prayer and discussion on Fridays.
Many boys from Year 6 upwards have benefited from our occasional pilgrimages to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, in Norfolk.
We have a small chapel in the Senior School which is available to boys of all faith backgrounds for use at those times when a few moments of stillness and silence is essential. There are weekly services of Holy Communion and boys in Year 8 may choose to be prepared for the sacrament of Confirmation.
Our school assemblies will nearly always have either religious or moral content, accessible to boys of all faiths. The community sings hymns and there is always an opportunity for prayer.
The whole school gathers for a service at the beginning and end of the school year in a local Anglican church and both Junior and Senior Schools have their own Carol Services. There is an Act of Remembrance each November and the Chapel Choir sings occasional services of Choral Evensong.
The Chaplain is available to any boys in the Middle and Senior Schools who wish to talk and he occasionally visits classes in the Junior School.
In Religious Studies lessons at The Hall, we engage in the study of religions as an academic discipline and the teaching style is therefore completely objective; it is not the task of the department to promote any specific faith. This approach has helped to establish the popularity of the subject and encourages boys of all faith backgrounds to continue with it at their senior schools; significant numbers of our former pupils go on to take GCSE and ‘A’ level.
The course follows broadly the format of the syllabus devised by the Independent Schools’ Religious Studies Association (ISRSA) and covers:-
- major Bible narratives of both Old and New Testaments. Their studies involve not only developing a thorough knowledge of certain texts but as they progress through the school they will also be encouraged to demonstrate an ability to analyse the material and begin to think theologically and critically. They also learn to write essays in which they link the themes to contemporary moral issues.
- an introduction to the practice of Christianity, the principal religion of the United Kingdom. All boys will have an understanding of major feasts and festivals.
- through guided self-study (making full use of the well-stocked non fiction section of the School Library), boys learn the basic principles of up to five other world faiths: Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism.
- the life and work of various people who have been motivated by their faith: Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Dame Cicely Saunders, Oscar Romero, William Wilberforce and Maximilian Kolbe. Boys can see the impact a personal faith can have on a person’s life and work. They also learn to appreciate that religious practice is still very much alive in the modern world.
- in Year 8 they are introduced to Philosophy of Religion.
In the final two years, there are a few options available, so that from time to time a boy is enabled to study topics which are of particular interest to him.
Many Year 7 pupils opt to study specific aspects of a world religion in detail; this will include a visit to a place of worship, interviewing practitioners of that faith and then producing a piece of coursework based on their findings.
Thus, all pupils leaving The Hall should have an understanding of why religion is a major influence on the lives of most people in the world, how the various main religions are practised and they will have been encouraged to develop a tolerant attitude to the beliefs of others.
Spirituality
Outside the classroom, opportunities exist for boys to develop their own spiritual lives should they wish to do so. Those who are practising Christians may choose to attend after-school classes in Christian Formation, which allows them not only to learn more about their own religion but also gives them the opportunity to reflect upon their own faith.
There is a Jewish Society which meets for prayer and discussion on Fridays.
Many boys from Year 6 upwards have benefited from our occasional pilgrimages to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, in Norfolk.
We have a small chapel in the Senior School which is available to boys of all faith backgrounds for use at those times when a few moments of stillness and silence is essential. There are weekly services of Holy Communion and boys in Year 8 may choose to be prepared for the sacrament of Confirmation.
Our school assemblies will nearly always have either religious or moral content, accessible to boys of all faiths. The community sings hymns and there is always an opportunity for prayer.
The whole school gathers for a service at the beginning and end of the school year in a local Anglican church and both Junior and Senior Schools have their own Carol Services. There is an Act of Remembrance each November and the Chapel Choir sings occasional services of Choral Evensong.
The Chaplain is available to any boys in the Middle and Senior Schools who wish to talk and he occasionally visits classes in the Junior School.