Religious Studies at JAGS is wide-ranging and thought-provoking, seeking to ask and answer fundamental questions of life which impact upon humanity.  In the lower school students are introduced to as many dimensions of religious phenomena and experience as possible, allowing them to develop their own beliefs and values, whilst alerting them to the diversities of the world around them.

They will address philosophical questions about the existence of God, the purpose of being and the nature of religious language and they will examine the challenges to religion posed by science. They will also have the opportunity to investigate the world's major religions and to consider the place of religion in modern, multicultural society, promoting a respectful and critical tolerance of global difference. They will be invited to visit local religious communities to witness faith in action, the aim of such personal encounters being to encourage pupils to understand, respect and embrace cultures different from their own.

The public examination courses in Religious Studies are popular, with many girls opting to continue their learning at GCSE and Advanced levels. At GCSE, they study the phenomenon of one specific religion (usually Judaism) and delve into an appreciation of how Christian teaching informs the attitudes of believers to various social, moral and global issues. The AS/A2 course offered at JAGS is becoming increasingly popular, and students are given the opportunity to study in depth a selection of Biblical texts from the Judeo Christian traditions, closely supported and complemented by a challenging study of the Philosophy of Religion.  All aspects of the A level offered at JAGS enable students to develop superb exegetic and analytic skills beneficial for furthering their studies at University, an option popular among leavers.  

Classroom discussion is always animated across all year groups, stimulating independent learning and critical thinking skills as part and parcel of a huge variety of homework activities. In addition, the development of accurate written and verbal communication (especially of conceptual material) is a high priority in this lively and successful department.