Religious Studies
Friday 19th March 2010
Philosophy And Ethics A Level Now Offered
Posted by Robin HarraginWe are now into our second year of teaching A Level Philosophy and Ethics (Religious Studies). Topics explored in Philosophy are: the problem of evil and suffering, do miracles really happen? Does God exist? Criticism of religion including from science, sociology and psychology. In Ethics we look at some ethical theories and in particular how they apply to the issues of Sexual Ethics, War and Peace and Justice, Law and Punishment.
After a slow take up at the start, the subject is rapidly becoming more popular. Anyone interested please contact Robin Harragin, Head of RE Department, through the school enquiries link.
Friday 19th March 2010
Introduction Of Full Rs Gcse
Posted by Robin HarraginDespite our outstanding success with RS short course GCSE (see below), we have decided to give our pupils the opportunity to take the full course as a way of enhancing their achievement at Claremont Fan Court School. The current Year 10 will soon be ready to sit the first module in May 2010. The course is taught by both teachers in the department. It has gone very well and pupils have enjoyed it at least as much as their predecessors in Year 11.
Friday 19th March 2010
Year 10 Visit To Baitul Futur Mosque
Posted by Robin Harragin
The trip to the mosque was very interesting and worthwhile. Here are some comments by pupils:"I was told about many aspects of Islam...........they shared their views about the way Muslims are treated in the media and thought it unfair to have a stereotype of all Muslims" Morgan Delaney.
"It was good to see a much more liberal side to Islam which was a break from the stereotype of the media, it was unusual that there were no men, only women there speaking to us..." Matthew Neat.
"It was very interesting to watch an actual prayer, and listed to the Arabic songs" Sophie Matthew.
"I was surprised that it was the biggest mosque in Western Europe though the fact Britain is more multi-cultuiral means that this mosque is needed to help with local needs." Tom Butcher
"We got to see the midday prayer and it was very different to other religions; the men and women were split apart and there is a lot more movement during the prayer." Greg Flynn.
"It helped me to understand what Islam means to the Muslims" Will Turner Website for Baitul Futur Mosque
Sunday 6th December 2009
Multi-faith Visits For Year 9
Posted by R. Harragin Hussey
Year 9 went on a trip to visit the Vishwa Hindu Kendra Temple in Southall and the Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Hounslow on Thursday 26 November. They had a very warm reception in both places of worship. At the Temple they watched the morning worshippers come to pay their respects to the deities and listened to the priest give a clear explanation of what they were seeing. When they left the pupils were given fruit out of respect for their visit.
They then travelled to the Sikh Gurdwara in Hounslow where they began by listening to a trio of female musicians from India playing hymns. After a talk from a Sikh elder they all ate a vegetarian lunch in the Langar, which is a typical feature of all Gurdwaras, showing the Sikhs’ concern that all in the community have enough to eat.
Many pupils have said that the lunch was a favourite part of the visit, some said the best part was the colourful shrines and the sound of the bell at the Temple and others were impressed with the female musicians. On the whole the visit was very a successful insight into the warmth and community-mindedness of these minority faiths in England. Mrs Robin Harragin Hussey, Head of RE
Sunday 31st May 2009
Year 10 Visit To Mosque
Posted by JMM
On Wednesday 24 April, all year 10 students had the privilege of being warmly welcomed to Hounslow's Jamia Masjid and Islamic Centre at the invitation of Imam Iftikar and the Chairman of Governors, Dr Robin Salahuddin.
We learned a great deal about the Muslim faith and way of life as well as having the chance to experience a prayer gathering. After the opportunity to take part in a 'question and answer' session, students and teachers were treated to refreshments.
We would like to thank Mrs Harragin for arranging this valuable trip.
Friday 16th January 2009
Year 9's Interesting And Unusual Visit To Southall
Posted by Robin Harragin, Head of RS DepartmentThe whole of Year 9 visited Southall on 13th November 2008 in order to experience the multi-cultural and multi-faith vibrancy of the area. The trip was a great experience and in their trip reports the pupils commented on the generosity of all who met who often sent us all away with gifts. They saw a variety of places of worship - HIndu, Sikh and Roman Catholic - and heard from several faith leaders about their religion.
Friday 16th January 2009
Fantastic Rs Gcse Success!
Posted by Robin Harragin, Head of RS DepartmentOut of a total of 94,361 candidates sitting the Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies exam, four Claremont students from Year 11 were among the Top Ten in the country for their overall marks - Euan Philip, Michael Speer, Sophie Taylor and Dapeng Wang.
This is also an outstanding achievement for their teacher, Linda Alanko. Mrs Alanko retired from Claremont in July after many years at the School and it is a fitting tribute to her for her dedication as a teacher who has always maintained consistently high standards.
Mrs Alanko said, “It’s nice that the students get public recognition for their excellent academic achievements but even more rewarding is to know that they have acquired life-skills through the study of Religious Studies that will help them make sense of the world and its complexities.”
Friday 16th January 2009
Mrs Insall-reid Joins The Rs Department
Posted by Robin HarraginTansy Insall-Reid started teaching RS in the Senior School at the beginning of the Autumn Term 2008. She is already proving to be a great asset to the department. She teaches at Key Stage 3 and may well take over some of the GCSE work next year.
Wednesday 23rd April 2008
Visiting The Christian Science Church
Posted by Robin Harragin
All of Year 9 walked the 1 and 1/4 miles from school to the Christian Science Church in Claygate on Monday 21st April accompanied by four teachers and some members of the church. In the church we were given refreshments and then listened to a panel of three speakers tell us about Christian Science and their experience of it. Afterwards the pupils asked some very intelligent questions. The visit evoked much interest in the Christian denomination which is the foundation of the School.
Christian Science Church, Claygate and EsherWednesday 23rd April 2008
Year 10 Gcse Visit To Mosque
Posted by Robin Harragin
The visit to the Shah Jehan Mosque in Woking lst February was interesting and surprising. We sat and listened to the Iman, Mr Mufti Amod, first in the small mosque pictured here, then in a large hall where most of the worshipers come for Friday midday prayers and other events. Several Year 10 remarked that they have a better idea of Islam as a result of their visit.
Shah Jahan Mosque, WokingSunday 27th January 2008
Visit To Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha
Posted by Robin Harragin
On Wednesday 23rd January 2008 our visit with Year 8 to the Sikh Gurdwara in Hounslow was so interesting. We heard hymns being sung, attended a talk about the origins and practices of Sikhism, ate lunch in the Langar (community kitchen), and toured the building. We had to take off our shoes and put on head dresses. We all looked very colourful. Our hosts were so generous and we felt very welcome. We will use what we learnt there to help us understand our course on Sikhism this term.
Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh SabhaSunday 27th January 2008
Visit To Wat Buddhapadipa
Posted by Robin Harragin
Year 9 visited Wat Buddhapadipa in Wimbledon on Monday 21 January. We were all amazed at the beauty of the building and internal murals! The talk by one of the Thai monks on Buddhism was so interesting that we all sat on the floor for an hour and asked many questions. We then explored the garden which was full of shrines and plaques inscribed with wisdom sayings and ended up taking refreshments under a canopy. In spite of the rainy weather, the visit was very worthwhile and will be used in Year 9's Buddhist projects this term.
Wat BuddhapadipaSunday 27th January 2008
Gideons Vist To Year 7
Posted by Robin Harragin
On Friday 7th December we had a visit from Mr Magnus Work of the Gideons Society to talk to Year 7 in the Library as part of their course on the Introduction to the Bible. He gave a stimulating and funny talk about the Society's origin and current activities. He also gave a copy of the little red New Testament to each pupil and challenged them to read it at least once a week. One pupil reported to me last week that he has since read the whole book!
Gideons International in the UKSunday 27th January 2008
What's Special To Year 8
Posted by Robin Harragin
Last November, each Year 8 pupil made a presentation on what is special in their lives at the moment as part of their study of The Ten Commandments. The range of presentations was fantastic! Whilst everyone agreed that family was the most precious, it wonldn't have been possible to bring them in, with some exceptions when a mother, big sister and grandparents obliged. Some other parents and grandparents kindly brought in precious pets such as dogs, cats, guinea pigs and hamsters. Other items for presentation included family heir looms, special gifts, sports equipment and awards, instruments and collectibles.
Monday 19th November 2007
New Teacher In Department
Posted by Robin HarraginThere are now two part time teachers in the Department. Mrs Linda Alanko continues her excellent work guiding the four Year 11 classes through to their GCSEs. She also teaches one class of Years 7, 8, 9 and 10, whilst Mrs Robin Harragin, the new Teacher in Charge, teaches three classes in Years 7,8,9 and 10. This arrangment is working well and we expect the Department to thrive. Things to look forward to include educational trips to places of worship for each year group.