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Last modified: 30 Apr 2026 12:46
Religious and Moral Education is a core part of the curriculum in Scottish Primary Schools. This course will critically consider the role, purposes, status of Religious and Moral Education (RME) in schools, and approaches to effective teaching of this area of the curriculum. Students will consider and engage with key debates around RME in contemporary educational discourse. They will also explore a range of topics and pedagogical approaches to RME education and build skills in lesson planning around this core curricular area.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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Religious and Moral Education is a core part of the curriculum in Scottish Primary Schools. This course, for MA Primary Education students, will critically consider the role, purposes, status of Religious and Moral Education (RME) in schools, and approaches to effective teaching of this area of the curriculum.
Students will consider and engage with key debates around RME in contemporary educational discourse. These may include:
- Discussions around faith schools and non-faith schools
- Discussions around the conscience clause
- Moral education in schools
- The principles and practices underpinning the RME curriculum
A variety of social and theoretical perspectives will underpin and support students’ critical engagement and reflection, as they consider the role(s) of Religious and Moral Education in Scotland. This course aims to provide a critical and informed understanding of different aspects of RME education from varied perspectives, and to give students space to explore their own views and perspectives.
Students will also explore a range of topics and pedagogical approaches to RME education and build skills in lesson planning around this core curricular area. Pedagogical approaches to teaching RME explored on the course may include:
- The key focus on learning about and learning from religious and non-religious beliefs
- Experiential learning
- RME in an interdisciplinary context
- Using artefacts
- Learning through stories
- Using field trips and guest speakers
- Different forms of questioning and discussion
The students will draw on the principles and pedagogies explored on the course to build their understanding of lesson planning for RME, and the assessment will build and assess their skills around lesson planning and critical reflection on the choices made in planning a lesson.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 39 | Feedback Weeks | 42 | |
| Feedback |
Ten minute presentation (recorded) in which students present an RME lesson they have created and critically justify the choices made therein (100%). |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Apply | Apply understanding of principles and pedagogical approaches in RME education by developing own lesson plan ideas. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Develop knowledge and understanding of effective pedagogical approaches to teaching RME in the Primary classroom. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Develop awareness and appreciation of key issues in Religious and Moral Education in primary classrooms. |
| Factual | Understand | Develop knowledge and understanding of the RME Primary curriculum. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 50 | Feedback Weeks | 51 | |
| Feedback |
Individual feedback will be given online via Turnitin on MyAberdeen |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Factual | Understand | Develop knowledge and understanding of the RME Primary curriculum. |
| Conceptual | Apply | Apply understanding of principles and pedagogical approaches in RME education by developing own lesson plan ideas. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Develop knowledge and understanding of effective pedagogical approaches to teaching RME in the Primary classroom. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Develop awareness and appreciation of key issues in education including secularisation, faith schools, sexuality and the role of belief in education. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Develop awareness and appreciation of key issues in Religious and Moral Education in primary classrooms. |
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