Religion, Philosophy and Ethics, A Level

The Curriculum Purpose  

The A-Level in Religious Studies aims to educate students in three interlinked areas: Religion, Philosophy and Ethics. The course is sequenced around these three areas, starting with fundamental concepts in year 12 and developing into more complex dimensions for year 13. 

 

Key concepts that underpin Religion, Philosophy and Ethics

Section A: Philosophy of religion  

• Arguments for the existence of God  

• Evil and suffering  

• Religious experience  

• Religious language  

• Miracles  

• Self and life after death.  

Section B: Ethics and religion  

• Ethical theories  

• Issues of human life and death  

• Issues of animal life and death  

• Introduction to meta ethics  

• Free will and moral responsibility  

• Conscience  

• Bentham and Kant. 

 

Christianity 

• Sources of wisdom and authority 

• God 

• Self, death and afterlife 

• Good conduct and key moral principles 

• Expressions of religious identity 

• Christianity, gender and sexuality 

• Christianity and science 

• Christianity and the challenge of secularisation 

• Christianity, migration and religious pluralism 
   

Key Features of Learning 

Religious Studies involves deep philosophical enquiry. This necessitates a dialogic approach to learning, where thinking aloud, discussion and collaboration aid the enrichment of thought. This, combined with writing and creative tasks, enables students to gain nuanced perspectives which they can articulate in their essays. 
 

What will you see in Religion, Philosophy and Ethics lessons? 

• Engagement and participation by all;  

• Opportunities for students to articulate their ideas verbally and improve their oracy; 

• Adaptive teaching;  

• Multi-media resources; 

• Probing questions and regular oral feedback; 

• Collaborative and individual writing tasks. 

 
What you will see in Religion, Philosophy and Ethics Folders?  

Students are encouraged to develop annotation and note-taking skills. At the start of year 12, students are provided more detailed resources and guided through the process of note taking. After time, students develop the competence to take their own notes and take control of their learning. 

Students are also set reading tasks for homework, which include reading chapters of relevant texts that delve further into the issues covered in the curriculum.  

 

What formative assessment will you see in Religion, Philosophy and Ethics?  

We embed regular mini quizzes into lessons, where students work in teams to revise content (for a prize!). 

For each topic of study, students write a midterm and end of topic assessment. Each assessment comprises two exam style questions. After each assessment, we have a feedback lesson where teachers address misconceptions and students have the opportunity to improve their grades.  
 

What extra-curricular is available from the Religion, Philosophy and Ethics dept? 

There are numerous after school revision sessions that run after school throughout the year to support learners and a trip into central London.