Home > Learning > Curriculum > Subjects & Courses > Religious Studies

Religious Studies at St Clare’s emphasises the search for what it means to be fully human. As a Catholic school, this search is pursued during liturgies, times of quiet reflection, and lesson time.

The goal of Religious Studies in the classroom is to enhance knowledge, understanding and tolerance. This tolerance can then lead to compassion and from this we may arrive at justice and the right ordering of relationships – a prerequisite for inner, national, and global peace.

Religion as a subject in the wider curriculum is assessed and reported on in terms of stage outcomes in the same way as other KLAs. Additionally, students complete diocesan developed religious literacy tests in Years 8 and 10.

St Clare’s actively implements the mandatory diocesan K–10 Religion syllabus in all classes throughout Stages 4 and 5.  Senior (Stage 6) students choose the NESA Studies of Religion course at either 1 or 2 Unit levels, or the NESA-endorsed Studies in Catholic Thought course.

The Stage 4 course in Religious Studies has been designed to assist those students coming into Years 7 and 8 from non-Catholic feeder schools and those who have not completed the diocesan primary RE course. It provides a knowledge base that centres on KLAs about the Catholic faith tradition and is an introduction to the study of Religion in a Catholic secondary school context.

Religious Studies courses in Stage 5, and Studies in Catholic Thought, in Stage 6 are also NESA-endorsed for both RoSA and the HSC.

In Stage 6, students may choose from either Studies in Catholic Thought, which is a 1 or 2 Unit course in Years 11 and 12, or, Studies of Religion, also a 1 or 2 Unit course. These are NESA-provided courses and run for 60 hours (1 unit) and 120 hours (2 unit) respectively. Studies of Religion can contribute towards an HSC and an ATAR.

Studies in Catholic Thought can contribute towards an HSC, but not an ATAR.

St Clare’s has a fine tradition of student achievement in Studies of Religion in past years, with two students placing in the Top 10 State Order of Merit in 1 Unit, and three students achieving this accolade in 2 Unit – including First in the State.