Philosophy and Ethics
Intent
The Philosophy and Ethics curriculum is designed to provide students with an education that fosters their academic, practical, and personal development. By exploring culture, faiths, and worldviews, students gain the cultural capital, attitudes and attributes they need to succeed in a diverse and interconnected world.
This curriculum is ambitious, offering all learners the knowledge, understanding, and skills necessary to achieve their potential. Students investigate a broad spectrum of religious and non-religious beliefs and practices, enabling them to interpret sources of authority, understand how beliefs are enacted in personal and societal contexts, and make meaningful connections between these ideas and their own lives.
Carefully sequenced and coherently planned, the curriculum builds cumulatively on students’ knowledge and skills, preparing them for future learning and employment. It emphasises respect, critical thinking, and reflection, equipping students to live harmoniously in a multicultural society while also engaging with questions of spirituality and morality.
The same high expectations and aspirations are held for all learners, ensuring inclusivity and equal opportunities for academic, technical, or vocational success. This approach ensures that every student is empowered to develop their full potential and contribute positively to society.
Big Ideas
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Belief |
Identifying and making sense of core religious and non-religious beliefs and concepts; understanding what these beliefs mean within their traditions. |
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Practices |
Identify and make sense core religious and non-religious practices and understanding what these practices mean within their tradition |
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Authority |
Recognising how and why sources of authority (such as texts) are used, expressed and interpreted in different ways, and developing skills of interpretation. |
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Society |
Examining how and why people put their beliefs into action in diverse ways, within their everyday lives, within their communities and in the wider world. |
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Connections
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Evaluating, reflecting on and connecting the beliefs and practices studied; allowing pupils to challenge ideas studied, and the ideas studied to challenge pupils’ thinking; discerning possible connections between these and pupils’ own lives and ways of understanding the world. |
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Theology |
This requires students to think like a theologian- asking questions believers would ask. It looks at where beliefs come from, how they have changed over time, how they are applied differently in different contexts and how they relate to each other. It involves investigating key texts and traditions within different religions and worldviews |
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Philosophy |
This requires students to think like a Philosopher- asking questions thinkers would ask. Philosophy enables pupils to deal with questions that have been raised and answers about knowledge, existence and morality. It is about finding out how and whether things make sense. It deals with questions of morality and ethics. It uses dialogue, discussion and debate to refine the way in which we think about the world and our place in it. |
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Social Science |
This requires students to think like a Social Scientist- Pupils will explore questions and answers raised in relation to the impact of religions and worldviews on people and their lives. Pupils will explore questions and answers raised in relation to the impact of religions and worldviews on people and their lives. It explores the diverse ways in which people practise their beliefs. It engages with the impact of beliefs on individuals, communities and societies. |
Overview
Year 7
- What does it mean for Christians to believe in God as Trinity? Explores Christian beliefs about the nature of God, including the concepts of the Trinity and the attributes of God.
- The Buddha: how and why do his experiences and teachings have meaning for people today? Explores how Buddhists emulate the Buddha's life and teachings to achieve enlightenment.
- What does it make being non-religious in Britain today? Explores the perspectives and experiences of atheists and agnostics in contemporary British society.
- Should religions be greener than everyone else? Investigates religious teachings on stewardship and environmental responsibility.
Year 8
- Does God need prophets today? Examines the role of prophets in conveying divine messages and their relevance in contemporary society.
- How are Sikh teachings on equality and service put into today? Examines how Sikhs apply principles of equality and selfless service in modern life.
- Good bad right wrong how do we decide? Investigates the processes and factors involved in making ethical choices.
- How can people express the spiritual through arts? Investigates the ways in which individuals express spiritual experiences and beliefs through various art forms.
Year 9
- What is so radical about Jesus? Analyses the teachings and actions of Jesus that challenged societal norms and religious traditions.
- What is good and challenging about being a Muslim in Britian today? Investigates the unique challenges Muslim teenagers encounter in contemporary British society.
- How far does it make a difference to believe in life after death? Explores how different beliefs about the afterlife influence individuals' lifestyles and values.
- Why is there suffering? Are there any good solutions? Examines the reasons behind human suffering and various religious and philosophical responses to it.
Year 10
- Christian Beliefs – Explores core Christian doctrines such as the nature of God, Jesus' life and resurrection, and salvation.
- Christian Practices – Examines how Christians express their faith through worship, prayer, sacraments, and service.
- Islam Beliefs – Investigates key Islamic beliefs including Tawhid, prophethood, and the afterlife.
- Islam Practices – Looks at how Muslims live out their faith through the Five Pillars and other acts of worship.
- War, Peace and Conflict – Examines religious perspectives on violence, pacifism, just war, and reconciliation.
- Religion and Life – Explores religious and ethical views on the origins of life, the environment, and the sanctity of life
Year 11
- Relationships and Families – Considers religious teachings on marriage, family life, gender roles, and sexuality.
- Religion, Crime and Punishment – Investigates religious attitudes toward justice, punishment, forgiveness, and the law.