Philosophy and RE

Key Stage 3

At Key Stage 3 students will explore a diverse range of religions including the Abrahamic Religions, Hinduism, Humanism and Paganism. We will explore these faiths considering key philosophical scholars from diverse approaches to philosophy. Equipping students with key knowledge and understanding of specific and diverse beliefs and practices, they will explore the similarities and differences religions share and will consider the impact religion has on society from past, now and to present. Students will develop skills in philosophical reasoning in a space where students are encouraged to form opinions, debate, think outside the box and form well-reasoned arguments by looking at key scholars, sacred texts, empiricism and reason. We will search ultimate questions of morality, faith, reality, purpose, spirituality, suffering, meaning, freedom, responsibility and identity. At the end of Year 8 students will have the opportunity to choose Religious Studies as an option, where they will get to explore topics of philosophy and reality, arguments for and against God's existence, alternative religions, women and feminist approaches to religion and Buddhism to prepare them will key skills to implement at GCSE level. All students will also continue with their PRE lessons once a week for CORE, exploring the following units, what it means to be human, PRE in Africa, the golden thread, tolerance, shoah, religion in the arts and medical ethics.

Key Stage 4

All students at Key Stage 4 will have the opportunity to study Core PRE focusing on issues of ethics and belief, exploring questions of fairness and equality, authority, racism, forgiveness, punishment, human rights and relationships. These lessons will give students time to discuss current topics in the world today and explore the impact on society.

Students that have taken Religious Studies as a GCSE will study, knowledge and understanding of two religions in depth - focusing on Christianity and Buddhism and study four units in Philosophy and Ethics, looking at issues of Relationships, Issues of Human Rights, Issues of Life and Death and Issues of Good and Evil.

Key Stage 5

At A Level our students have the opportunity to develop knowledge and understanding in Philosophy. Students will develop understanding in Epistemology, Moral philosophy, the Metaphysics of God and the Metaphysics of mind. Exploring the minds of key influential scholars and texts to analyse, criticise, reflect and evaluate. Students will gain essential skills in producing a well-reasoned argument and to be curious and review life's big questions, debate and form opinions without ignorance. They will be introduced to philosophical reasoning and argument and how to assess whether an argument is successful or not. The written skills developed compliment other humanities subjects, psychology, sociology, politics, logic, English and many more.