GCSE (General Approach)

My understanding of the GCSE Religious Studies criteria is that the pupil is required to demonstrate three key areas of skill: a knowledge set on at least two world religions, a personal opinion on the set of issues required, the ability to debate and come to logical conclusions.

Depending on at what point in the year I start working with the pupil and how many sessions I have with them I would devise a plan of topics to cover for each session. Before the session I would ask them to revise the knowledge required for that topic, giving as many tips and creative ideas as I can to make it more fun and digestable. Then I would spend the session debating the topic with them, I feel this would be the best use of their time with me as it will really challenge their analytical ability and develop their critical thinking. By the end of the session I would aim for the pupil to have come to a conclusion about what their opinion is on the topic, and be comfortable to argue it. I would then give them a quick fire test on the knowledge to really cement it. I would set them the homework of revising the next topic and I'd ask them to keep a journal of our sessions, to keep track of the debates we had and the conclusions they came to.