Attainment Target 2: Learning From Experience and Religion

End of Key Stage 3 Descriptions
Category	Description
1. The self and being human	Pupils are developing the ability to evaluate their own beliefs and disbeliefs, ideas and opinions, values and attitudes, perceptions and experiences in the light of their learning about religions; and they evaluate aspects of the religions being studied in the light of their own beliefs, ideas, perceptions, values, attitudes and experiences explain something of what it means to be a human being, and show some understanding of religious and other views of human life show understanding of the idea that every hman being is ultimately of equal value, and explain some of the implications of this view show they appreciate that suffering is part of the human condition, and explain some of the difficulties the problem of suffering presents for religious believers explain some of the things in life to which they are genuinely committed and from which they derive fulfilment describe in thoughtful and considered terms the paths they intend to follow through life and the general principles by which they mean to live their lives, giving reasons for their intended choices and showing understanding of why others make different choices show understanding of concepts such as identity, autonomy, consciousness, free will and determinism
2. Relationships and Community	are developing the ability to evaluate religious and other views on personal relationships show they appreciate some of the responsibilities and commitments entailed in personal relationships show understanding of some of the characteritic features of different groups and communities, and explain how different groups and communities relate to each other show appreciation of the extent to which beliefs and disbeliefs, ideas and opinions, values and attitudes (their own and others) are culturally determined show understanding of different forms of love
3. The Natural World and the Universe	are developing the ability to evaluate religious and other views on environmental issues show awareness of ways in which aesthetic and spiritual fulfilment can be derived from the natural world show understanding of the possibility of a purposeful organisation in nature and that this may be attributed to God explain some of the difficulties raised for religious believers by what are perceived as the negative aspects of nature, such as cruelty and suffering inherent in the natural world show they understand that scientific and religious explanations can be perceived as complementary rather than contradictory
4. Spiritual Experience	show understanding of the possibility of a spiritual dimension to life, appreciating that spirituality may be perceived as existing independently of religion show understanding of the nature of spiritual exercises such as stilling, visualisation and meditation, and of the purpose and value of such activities identify people, places, works of art and experiences that have a spiritual quality, and explain what it is about them that gives them this quality show appreciation of the fact that some people have experiences (both religious and non-religious) of an extra-ordinary nature that seem to defy the normal rules governing existence, and suggest possible explanations for these show appreciation of the significance of miracles for some religious believers show understanding of concepts such as spirituality, transcendence, the numinous and mysticism
5. Morality and Ethics	express in thoughtful and considered terms their own views on a variety or moral issues, supporting their views with appropriate reasons and explaining the consequences of their application are developing the ability to evaluate religious and other views on a variety of moral issues show understanding of the complexity of moral issues show they understand that to treat people equally is not to treat them the same, but to treat them differently, taking account of individual needs show understanding of the complexity of concepts such as right and wrong, good and evil, fairness and unfairness, justice and injustice, forgiveness and retribution
6. Questions and Beliefs	identify some ultimate questions, and explain the nature and significance of such questions express in thoughtful and considered terms their own responses to a range of ultimate questions are developing the ability to evaluate religious and personal responses to ultimate questions show awareness of the origins of their own beliefs and disbeliefs, and of the part these play in their lives show understanding of the fact that religions offer answers to ultimate questions raise their own searching questions about religion and aspects of human experience
7. Language, Communication and Expression.	explain the inadequacy and limitation of words in attempting to articulate things of a spiritual nature identify figurative uses of language, such as metaphor, allegory and symbol use symbolic forms to express feelings and ideas show understanding of how beliefs, ideas and values can be expressed through religious stories, rituals and symbols show awareness of a range of means of symbolic expression