Monmouth School has a Christian foundation and traditions, but pupils are admitted regardless of religion. The vast majority of boys come from the various Christian denominations, with approximately 80% of pupils from the Anglican tradition. However, there are also Buddhists, Muslims and Sikhs in the school, all of whose faiths are respected.
The study of the Christian tradition makes up the core component of the RE course but other religious and secular worldviews are also examined. One of the main objectives of both the school and the Department is to give boys the opportunity to consider and explore the Christian faith for themselves.
Rationale
RE has an important contribution to make to the Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development of pupils. By studying religions and learning from them, pupils can examine various moral frameworks so that the fundamental questions of human existence can be considered. Pupils will also be given some form of religious teaching in Chapel and Assemblies. At times, RE teaching may overlap with this. However, the purpose of RE is not to catechise or convert, but to educate.
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Quality RE occurs when we relatethe beliefs, concepts and values of the world faiths expressed through such things as their scriptures, worship, practices, community life and engagement with the world to shared human experience and personal search by active learning strategies. |
The Christian Education Movement argues thus:
"If RE is successful, its fruits will be evident not only in terms of knowledge, or even understanding or skills, though these will certainly be in evidence, but in attitudes. The religiously educated pupil will have reached at least an awareness of a set of beliefs and values by which he or she lives, while respecting the beliefs and values of those who have reached different conclusions. Such a pupil will also remain open to the possibility of further illumination, from whatever source, in a continuing search." (CEM, The Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education, p.3.)
If Monmouth School is able to produce such pupils, RE will have made a significant contribution to the education and to the lives of those boys who have passed through the Department.