Religion Philosophy and Ethics

Key Stage 3

Key Stage 4

The GCSE Religious Studies follows the AQA ‘specification A’ course.  It is designed to help students to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding of religion by exploring philosophical and ethical questions. Students will be challenged to explore the significance and impact of beliefs, teachings, practices and ways of life as well as studying key religious texts. Students will also be encouraged to express personal responses and informed insights on fundamental questions and issues about meaning, purpose, truth, values and commitments. At GCSE level schools are required to study two religions and our students study Christianity and Buddhism.

Unit 1 is a study of the beliefs, teachings and practices of Christianity and Buddhism. This is examined by a 1 hour and 45 minutes written paper. 50% of total GCSE. Unit 2 is a thematic study of four religious, philosophical and ethical themes. This is examined by a 1 hour and 45 minutes written paper. 50% of total GCSE. All examinations are carried out at the end of Year 11.

GCSE students may find the following sites helpful:

https://revisionworld.com/gcse-revision/rs-religious-studies

http://www.rsrevision.com/GCSE/

Year 10

Year 11

Example of skill progression

Debate and written skills progress from supporting an opinion, to evaluation and justification.

Key Stage 5

The A level course develops skills of interpretation and analysis. It equips students to be independent thinkers and to be strong in powers of persuasion. It encourages open mindedness while examining critically, various religious and ethical belief systems. It will develop essay writing skills and the ability to evaluate issues and develop critical awareness of personal points of view. This course will increase awareness of the beliefs and issues that affect our society today as well as considering on-going controversial issues.

Unit 1: Philosophy of Religion – 2 hours written examination. 33.3% of total A level

This unit studies philosophical arguments about the existence or non-existence of God as well as the nature and problem of evil. It also studies different views on life after death. It asks whether or not the soul can exist outside of the body.  It studies the validity of religious experience and miracles and looks at whether or not religious language has any meaning.

Unit 2: Religious Ethics – 2 hours written examination. 33.3% of total A level

This unit studies the relationship between ethical theories and religious methods of ethical decision making. It contrasts religious and secular approaches to morality. It will also consider a variety of ethical issues such as euthanasia and sex and sexuality. It also studies freewill and determinism and considers to what extent the future is already mapped out. It also studies the nature and role of conscience in decision making and whether this comes from God or society.

Unit 3: Developments in Christian thought – 2 hours written examination. 33.3% of total A level

This unit studies the Christian religion, looking at religious beliefs, values and teachings. It also studies the significant social and historical developments in Christianity as well as the relationship between religion and society.

Due to the nature of this qualification, it can be applied to any university course or career because it develops skills that are valuable and can be applied in many areas – Law, Journalism, Teaching, Media, Social Work, Community Work. The ‘Ethics’ part of the course will sit well with Advanced Level Biology and will be of value for those thinking of going into medicine.

Good combinations of other subjects to study with Religious Studies are:

History, Geography, Sociology, Psychology, English, Biology, Business Studies.

Example of skill progression

Skills of evaluation and justification are refined further considering the authenticity of supporting evidence and conducting independent research.

Careers and progression

Qualification pathways 

The GCSE offered at KS4 prepares students perfectly for the A level offered at KS5, which in turn prepares students for further study at degree level or employment.  The skills that students develop in Religion, Philosophy and Ethics A level are transferable and essential to work in, for example uniformed services, social work, advice work, archivist, charity officer, teaching, retail, customer service, human resources, civil service administrator journalism and law.

Example of successful progressions

A level students in Religious Studies generally apply for a variety of undergraduate degrees. Examples of careers that students who have taken the Religious Studies course have gone into:

• Armed forces
• Counselling
• Entertainment management
• Journalism
• Law
• Primary school teaching
• Secondary school teaching
• Uniformed services - Police, Prison service
• University lecturing

Examples of links to Gatsby benchmark 4 (Linking curriculum to careers) 

In units such as crime and punishment and start of life we delve into the difficult moral and ethical decisions that people in careers such as law and science have to make through their careers and explore the types of skills they need for this and how RPE helps them.

Examples of link to Gatsby benchmark 5 (encounters with employers)

We regularly have people in from ‘Souster Youth’ a local charity involved in schools work and counselling.

Employability skills

Debating, demonstrating empathy, analysis & evaluation, justifying, evaluation, communication skills.