Philosophy and Ethics

Curriculum intent:

Philosophy and ethics is an important and relevant subject for all students. It provides an opportunity for students to develop their understanding of culture, faiths and of other people, as well as investigating their own spirituality and morality. Studying philosophy and ethics contributes to students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) education. It provides students with the skills and knowledge to live respectfully in a diverse and multicultural world. The breadth of focus offers students the opportunities to study a range of religions and world views.

As the Devon Agreed Syllabus states:
The principal aim of religious education is to explore what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live, so that pupils can gain the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to handle questions raised by religion and belief, reflecting on their own ideas and ways of living.

At Sir John Hunt, our aims for students are to:

1. make sense of a range of religious and non-religious beliefs, so that
they can:

• identify, describe, explain and analyse beliefs and concepts in the context of living religions, using appropriate vocabulary;
• explain how and why these beliefs are understood in different ways, by individuals and within communities;
• recognise how and why sources of authority (e.g. texts, teachings, traditions, leaders) are used, expressed and interpreted in different ways, developing skills of interpretation.

2. understand the impact and significance of religious and non-religious
beliefs, so that they can:

• examine and explain how and why people express their beliefs in diverse ways;
• recognise and account for ways in which people put their beliefs into action in diverse ways, in their everyday lives, within their communities and in the wider world;
• appreciate and appraise the significance of different ways of life and ways of
expressing meaning.

3. make connections between religious and non-religious beliefs, concepts,
practices and ideas studied, so that they can:

• evaluate, reflect on and enquire into key concepts and questions studied, responding
thoughtfully and creatively, giving good reasons for their responses;
• challenge the ideas studied, and allow the ideas studied to challenge their own thinking,
articulating beliefs, values and commitments clearly in response;
• discern possible connections between the ideas studied and their own ways of
understanding the world, expressing their critical responses and personal reflections with
increasing clarity and understanding.