Philosophy, Religion & Ethics

Key Stage 3

What will students learn?

We aim to ensure that all students understand and appreciate the nature and diversity of religious belief and practice, and why these are important and influential for faith communities.

All students should be able to:

develop a sense of their own identity and worth
become more aware of the reasons why people commit themselves to beliefs
appreciate how language and art is used by faith communities to evoke or express religious feelings and beliefs.

How will students be taught?

All students have access to a wide range of resources created within the department, including bespoke videos, created in school and saved on Microsoft Streams, that showcase different aspects of each faith community. There are many opportunities for discussions and debates as we explore together some of the big moral questions facing the world today.

Key Stage 4

What will students learn?

At GCSE, Philosophy, Religion & Ethics gives students the opportunity to consider their own and others’ responses to the biggest questions in life. It allows students to explore a range of philosophical, religious and ethical issues to form an understanding and appreciation of many different views.

This course is divided into two components:

1: The study of beliefs, teachings and practices

This part of the course focuses on Christianity and Buddhism. Students learn about the way of life of those who follow these religions, and how their beliefs and teachings impact on their actions. Students will also learn about how and why they differ in their beliefs on issues such as: the concept of God, evil and suffering, and life after death.

2: Philosophy and ethics

During this part of the course students will critically consider ethical and philosophical questions including:

Religion and Life
Abortion
Euthanasia
Animal experimentation
Origin of the universe

Peace and Conflict
To what extent is religion a cause of conflict?
To what extent does religion promote peace?

Philosophy of Religion
Do miracles happen?
Can we prove the existence of God?
Does evil disprove the existence of God?

Crime and punishment

What are the key causes of crime?

Does punishment reduce crime?

Is the death penalty morally justifiable?

How will students be taught?

Student will learn using a range of different methods including group work, discussion, debate, investigation, research, case studies and reading.

How will students be assessed?

Students sit two papers each lasting 1 hour 45 minutes. They contain a range of questions from defining key concepts to presenting arguments.

Examination board & course type

AQA - GCSE Religious Studies (8062)

What can studying this subject lead to?

Studying P.R.E will help you to develop a range of important skills that are essential in any workplace. For example, the ability to recognise and appreciate different points of view, to express your views using well thought out arguments, to understand how beliefs affect behaviour and how to manage conflict.