Religious Studies
Religious Studies plays a key role in providing opportunities for spiritual, moral and cultural development, as it encourages girls to explore their own beliefs, values and identity and to grow in their awareness and appreciation of other worldviews and cultures.
We strive to ensure that Religious Studies lessons for all ages are intellectually challenging and enjoyable. We promote interactive and experiential learning, with plenty of opportunities for discussion and debate. Through Religious Studies, girls develop the knowledge and skills they need to think rigorously, to present informed arguments and to grow in their own understanding of the world and their place in it.
The GCSE Religious Studies specification is designed to inspire students to engage with major issues that are interesting, relevant and important in the 21st century world. By taking this course, students gain a deeper understanding of two religions and explore key themes in philosophy and ethics. They develop their skills of critical evaluation and analysis while broadening their knowledge of the world around them.
Within the themes of the GCSE, students have the opportunity to learn about, discuss and evaluate a wide range of topics, such as: gender and sexuality; marriage and divorce, philosophical arguments about God; religious experience; animal rights; and medical ethics.
Religious Studies is an ideal A-level option for students who enjoy exploring perplexing questions about life, the universe and everything: ‘Is there a God?’; ‘Why is there suffering?’; ‘Why should we live morally?’; ‘Is it ever right to end a life?’; ‘What happens when we die?’.
The Maynard Religious Studies course comprises of three areas of study: Philosophy of Religion, Religion and Ethics and Developments in Christian Thought. This syllabus provides an opportunity to explore the rich heritage of western philosophical and ethical thought and to undertake a study of key concepts in Christianity. Students encounter significant thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, St Thomas Aquinas, Immanuel Kant, David Hume, J. S. Mill and Karl Marx, as well as prominent philosophers and theologians of the 20th century and the present day.
Taking Religious Studies A-level will help you to develop skills in critical and reflective thinking, as well as to develop a greater understanding of philosophy, ethics and religion. The content ranges from the ideas of ancient Greek philosophers to highly contentious contemporary issues such as gender and religion, euthanasia and business ethics. You will learn how to construct balanced, informed arguments, both in your written essays and in lively class discussions and debates.
Meet Mrs Gwynne, Head of Religious Studies
Miss Gwynne has been Head of Religious Studies at the Maynard since 2007. She has Master of Theology degrees from St Andrews, Scotland and Princeton Theological Seminary in the USA.
Her studies inspired her to follow a career in RS teaching, and she remains passionate about her subject. She believes that RS provides wonderful opportunities for students to explore the wider world and broaden their cultural horizons.
Miss Gwynne particularly values lessons where students challenge themselves and each other to think more deeply about matters of faith, ethics and philosophy. Class discussions are often thought-provoking, challenging and a lot of fun; with the thoughtful insights and questions that Maynard girls share in class, no two RS lessons are ever quite the same.
In her spare time, Miss Gwynne is a keen choral singer and she loves attending classical music concerts. She’s a proud Exeter girl by birth (her Mum is an Old Maynardian) and she enjoys exploring the Devon coast and countryside, especially where there’s a fascinating old church to discover. She loves reading and anything word-related; she’s even a prize-winning cryptic crossword solver!
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