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Year 11
Eduqas

Christianity and types of punishment

I can describe types of punishment and explain Christian and other views on justice and rehabilitation.

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Share activities with pupils
New
New
Year 11
Eduqas

Christianity and types of punishment

I can describe types of punishment and explain Christian and other views on justice and rehabilitation.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Types of punishment include prison, fines, community service, corporal punishment and the death penalty.
  2. People disagree on whether prison or community service works better, with some supporting harsher approaches
  3. Christian teachings stress dignity, forgiveness and helping offenders change.
  4. Prison chaplains offer spiritual support and work with charities to aid rehabilitation.
  5. Reformers like Howard and Fry inspired charities that support fair and humane justice.

Keywords

  • Chaplain - a religious representative who provides spiritual care, support and guidance in places like prisons, hospitals, schools or the armed forces

  • Punishment - a penalty given to someone for a crime or wrong they have done

  • Rehabilitation - the process of helping offenders regain skills, change behaviour and reintegrate into society after committing a crime

Common misconception

Prison always helps people change for the better.

Without proper support, prisoners may be more likely to reoffend after release due to negative influences, lack of rehabilitation and poor mental health care.


To help you plan your year 11 religious education lesson on: Christianity and types of punishment, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Showing clips from documentaries about life in prison would be a helpful way to engage students in debate about the effectiveness of prison as a punishment.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Helping the offender understand why their behaviour was wrong is the aim of .

Correct Answer: reformation

Q2.
What is the main aim of retribution?

Helping the offender change.
Correct answer: Punishing as payback for wrongdoing.
Protecting victims from future harm.

Q3.
What does protection aim to do?

Correct answer: Keep the public safe by removing threats.
Reward good behaviour.
Teach victims how to defend themselves.

Q4.
What does deterrence try to achieve?

Help the offender get legal advice.
Make punishment more appealing.
Correct answer: Discourage people from committing crimes.

Q5.
What is justice mainly about?

Correct answer: Fair treatment and accountability.
Ignoring the crime if it’s small.
Letting victims choose the punishment.

Q6.
All punishments try to achieve the same thing.

True – all punishments are about revenge.
Correct answer: False – punishments have different aims.
False – punishment depends on how rich the person is.

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
is the process of helping offenders change and reintegrate into society after committing a crime.

Correct Answer: rehabilitation

Q2.
In his letter to the Galatians, St Paul said “if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should that person gently.”

Correct Answer: restore

Q3.
What does Jesus’ response to the woman caught in adultery teach?

That sin should always be punished harshly
Correct answer: That forgiveness is possible, but change is expected
That people should be left to make their own choices

Q4.
Why do some Christians support prison chaplaincy?

To provide recreational activity for inmates.
To punish prisoners through prayer.
Correct answer: To offer spiritual support and promote dignity.

Q5.
What is the main focus of the Christian charity PACT?

Correct answer: Supporting prisoner wellbeing and family links.
Providing legal defence for prisoners.
Building new prisons across the UK.

Q6.
Prison always helps people change for the better.

True – prison guarantees moral improvement.
True – being locked away solves all problems.
Correct answer: False – prisoners may reoffend without proper support