Philosophy and Ethics / Religious Studies
Philosophy and Ethics involves the exploration of wide-ranging topics and their effect on the human race. We explore the beliefs held by a variety of people and how these beliefs impact on the daily lives of communities. Experiences common to most of us are visited, origins of practice investigated, influences on behaviour identified and benefits to individuals/communities celebrated. Why humans behave as they do and the consequences of decisions made in daily lives are at the heart of our lessons.
Religious Studies (GCSE) looks in detail at the beliefs, teachings and practices of Islam and Christianity. Those are then applied to a variety of topics – what do religious communities teach about these topics and how do religious believers interpret holy texts in context of the topics? Students are encouraged to question, explore, investigate and compare in each topic, to ensure a thorough understanding of all content.
Year 7
| Year and Term | Scheme of Work | Brief Description |
| Year 7 Term 1 | Beliefs and Concepts | Students will explore the concept of God within Christianity. They will then examine the concept of a religion without a God by exploring at Buddhism. |
| Year 7 Term 2 | Rights and Responsibilities | Students will look at Human Rights and explore how significant figures within religion helped support human rights around the world. Students will explore Christianity and Sikhism. |
| Year 7 Term 3 | Spirituality | Students will explore how the 6 major world religions use artwork to express spirituality. Students will then produce a piece of work that they can enter into the NATRE Spirited Arts competition. |
Year 8
| Year and Term | Scheme of Work | Brief Description |
| Year 8 Term 1 | Equality | Looking at events that have discriminated against people specifically to do with religion. During this module student will look into the Holocaust and the Caste System. Students will explore Judaism, Hinduism and Sikhism. |
| Year 8 Term 2 | Science and Religion | Students will look at creation and evolution and how they can work together and against each other. Students will then look at some medical ethics and how religion can support or contradict modern medical breakthroughs. Students will explore Christianity, scientific viewpoints, Humanism and Buddhism. |
| Year 8 Term 3 | Authority | Students will explore where religions get their authority from. Students will explore Christianity and Islam. |
Links to useful websites:
Core Philosophy and Ethics Year 9
All students will do core Philosophy and Ethics. Currently, we are remodelling core, so these modules may not be what students complete during the year.
| Year/Rotation | Module |
| Year 9 Rot 1 | Morality |
| Year 9 Rot 2 | Treatment of Animals |
| Year 9 Rot 3 | Multicultural Britain |
| Year 9 Rot 4 | What is Terrorism? |
Core Philosophy and Ethics Year 10
| Year 10 Rot 1 | Medical Ethics |
| Year 10 Rot 2 | Human Relationships |
| Year 10 Rot 3 | Media and Religion |
| Year 10 Rot 4 | Hinduism |
Core Philosophy and Ethics Year 11
| Year 11 Rot 1 | Life after Death |
| Year 11 Rot 2 | Festivals |
| Year 11 Rot 3 | Citizenship |
| Year 11 Rot 4 | Study Leave? |
KS4 – GCSE Option
AQA 8062 Syllabus A – full course GCSE – samples of work and supportive material can be found on the AQA website: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/religious-studies/gcse/religious-studies-a-8062
Students will sit two exams, Paper 1 dealing with “Beliefs and Teachings” and “Practices”, Paper 2 dealing with the four “Thematic Studies” selected. Each exam is 1 hour and 45 minutes. Our lessons will give the students the opportunity to debate and discuss, write, watch relevant clips and film shorts, and to produce detailed investigation work on the various themes or aspects of, to enhance their learning. 50% of the examination requires students to know and understand religion and belief systems and 50% requires the students to analyse and evaluate aspects of religious belief.
| Term | Module |
| Year 9 Term 1 | Christianity: Beliefs and Teaching |
| Year 9 Term 2 | The Existence of God and Revelation |
| Year 9 Term 3 | Christian Practices |
| Year 10 Term 1 | Islam: Beliefs and Teachings |
| Year 10 Term 2 | Religion, Peace and Conflict |
| Year 10 Term 3 | Islam: Practices |
| Year 11 Term 1 | Religion, Crime and Punishment |
| Year 11 Term 2 | Religion and Life |
| Year 11 Term 3 | Revision |
Links to useful websites: