51ºÚÁÏ

AQA GCSE Religious Studies – The Three Aims of Punishment

This focused and thought-provoking lesson is tailored for the AQA GCSE Religious Studies course, exploring the three key aims of punishment: retribution, reformation, and deterrence. With a strong emphasis on Christian and Islamic teachings, students will gain a clear understanding of how different faiths respond to each aim and be encouraged to critically assess their effectiveness in today’s society.

Learning Outcomes:

• Know and understand the definitions and purposes of retribution, reformation, and deterrence.

• Explain religious attitudes towards each aim of punishment, using scriptural evidence and moral reasoning from Christianity and Islam.

• Evaluate which aim of punishment is most effective or desirable for society, giving reasoned arguments and considering alternative viewpoints.

• It includes a **** PowerPoint presentation**** that outlines the key content and learning objectives.

• A starter activity recaps prior knowledge from the scheme of work (SOW), helping students to connect new learning to what they already know.

• Throughout the lesson, **questioning activities **are used to promote discussion, check understanding, and encourage participation.

• Students will complete an exam/ deliberate practice question to develop their assessment skills and apply their knowledge.

• A student worksheet is provided with a variety of tasks to reinforce learning.

• The lesson concludes with a final activity that allows students to consolidate their understanding and reflect on what they have learned.

Ideal For:
• Schools introducing/covering AQA GCSE Religious Studies
• KS4 RE departments
• New or non-specialist teachers

Why Choose This Resource?
Fully aligned with AQA GCSE RS (Paper 2: Thematic Studies)
Clear links to Christianity and Islam throughout
Encourages critical thinking and application of religious beliefs
Easily adaptable for in-class, homework use or remote learning
Clearly structured to support students in building high-level evaluative answers
Suitable for mixed-ability classes, with scaffolding provided to support all learners.