Religion, Philosophy and Ethics (RPE) at Exmouth Community College is a thriving subject adding huge value to all our students’ lives. Our curriculum aims to support all our young people in developing a deep understanding and curiosity of the complexities of other peoples’ religious and non-religious worldviews. Our journey through the curriculum sees us explore themes of diversity, equality, morality and big philosophical questions through a multitude of lenses, taking inspiration from the Devon Agreed Syllabus. It is designed to engender attitudes of responsibility, inclusion and respect. 

It is important for our students to look beyond what they experience in our largely mono-cultural Exmouth. We want to help our students grapple with key issues that are affecting, and will affect, their lives in and outside of Exmouth, including those linked to Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development, British Values, and most significantly, Sex and Relationships Education. Our enquiry into these areas of personal development is synthesised with our teaching of RPE to enable our young people to make connections between different worldviews and modern life.  Much of this is done in the classroom, but we try to find as many opportunities as we can to welcome outside speakers to help broaden our students’ horizons even wider. 

We help our students in becoming thoughtful, lifelong learners who evaluate and discuss and do not prejudge or discriminate. We create a classroom culture where all students feel safe to discuss questions of meaning and their place in the world, listening to a multitude of voices to enable them to come to more informed conclusions about how they view the world and others. 

Parents in England have the right to withdraw their children from Religious Education (RE) lessons, either entirely or partially, in state-funded schools.  This right is established by law and schools must comply with such requests.  While RE is a compulsory subject, parents can exercise their right to withdraw their child from lessons.  If you would like to withdraw your child, please follow this link, Right to Withdraw from Religious Education Statement