Our decisions and behaviour come from the core ideas, beliefs and values that we hold. In Religious Studies, the girls are encouraged to investigate where these come from. It follows that the views people have shape their decisions concerning the moral issues they face today. In such a rapidly changing and technologically advanced age, the life decisions girls will make have become very complex.
As a school with Methodist foundations, we focus on Christian beliefs and values. However, the other five major world religions are investigated with rigour and respect. We help girls to find a framework for understanding themselves and others so that they may live a life of integrity.
At GCSE the girls study for either a full or short course qualification. The GCSE allows students to: gain an overview of up to two religions, explore the philosophical arguments for and against the existence of God and examine different responses to a range of ethical issues. The A Level course builds on the work of the GCSE by looking again at both the philosophical arguments and ethical issues, but obviously in much greater depth.
Revd Jan Beer, Acting Head of Religious Studies
Rev Mrs Jan Beer, Cert Ed (
London)
Due to her different responsibilities, Jan has had experience in a variety of working environments. Having left university she taught in primary schools, first in
Sussex and then in Bedfordshire. She then lived as a missionary with her husband in the
West Indies before returning to Hertfordshire where she continued with her teaching career, both in the state sector and in a private school.
Following her vocation to the ordained ministry, Jan trained at
Oak
Hill
Theological
College and once she was ordained, she began teaching Religious Studies at
St Albans
High School for Girls. Her involvement in the life of her students led her to consider Chaplaincy, and so after nine years of teaching in St Albans she left to take up the post of Chaplain to
Middlesex
University. This was a challenging but interesting experience and she learnt a great deal about the joys and problems of being part of Higher Education. When the university began to think of closing down the chaplaincy, Jan managed to get an interesting, short contract job as Project Manager for the CARE organisation, managing Marriage Education resources for schools to cover both the primary and secondary sectors. During this period she was responsible for managing the production of a video, a CD Rom and story books, as well as collaborating in the writing of text books both for CARE and also for Civitas.
It was due to the contacts she made during the production of these resources that Jan finally joined the staff of Queenswood in the year 2000. Until this year she has been teaching Religious Studies over the whole age range at Queenswood, as well as leading services in chapel on various occasions. Jan looks forward with interest to her responsibilities as Head of Department this year.
Out of school she is the assistant curate in the Parish of Northaw and Cuffley where her husband is the vicar. In her spare time she enjoys painting, reading, walking and visiting
France whenever possible.