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Religious Studies are an important part of the education at St Hugh’s. Independent schools rely on prep schools to provide background knowledge about the Bible and the basic tenets of other faiths. We aim to:
- Enable pupils to explore and reflect on religious and spiritual beliefs and practices.
- Enhance pupils’ spiritual, moral, cultural and social development as they learn both about and from religion.
- Develop knowledge and understanding of the Bible.
- Introduce pupils to Christianity as part of their cultural heritage.
- Develop awareness of other world faiths and to study at least two in depth.
- Develop study skills such as analysis, summary and effective communication of ideas.
- Encourage pupils to listen to each other’s opinions and reflect on some of the big questions in life as they are raised in what they study.
- Prepare pupils for Common Entrance and Scholarship.
- Foster interest in religious issues.
- Make the curriculum accessible to children with special educational needs.
The way the syllabus is run throughout the school allows children to build on knowledge and skills they acquire year by year. In the Pre-Prep Department, they are learning in a very general way about what religion is and the part it plays in society. They learn about key events in the Christian calendar as well as festivals in other religions. They also begin to think about themselves and how they relate to events and people around them. They are given an introduction to the life of Christ and do a project on the Church.
 In the Middle and Senior School this kind of thinking is developed as children take a closer look at the Bible, both historically and theologically, and study a major world religion. These studies eventually form the core of the Common Entrance and Scholarship exams. In the fifth form, pupils will visit a place of worship; this year’s trip was to the Hindu Temple in Neasden. Next year we plan to go to an Islamic Centre.
A major part of Religious Studies involves pupils thinking about contemporary issues and considering their responses to them in the light of religious teaching. A major part of this work is done through discussion but they are also required to write essays based on their own research. The type of issue that comes under the spotlight can be found in the textbook ‘Religious Studies for Common Entrance’. 
Teaching Staff
- Mrs Susan Grenfell (HOD) - Upper School
- Mr John Ridgway - Upper School
- Mr Christopher Hallion - Middle School
- Mrs Susan Halliday - Middle School
- Mrs Annette Lings - Pre-Prep School
- Mrs Anne Smith - Pre-prep School
Examples of Good Work
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