Begin Your Philosophy & Ethics Journey
Discover how Philosophy & Ethics can shape your future — explore our curriculum from KS3 through to Sixth Form.
Contact the Philosophy & Ethics DepartmentPhilosophy & Ethics
The Philosophy and Religious Studies curriculum at Sandy Secondary School engages and inspires pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to answer challenging questions about the world around them and their own beliefs. Students explore their own worldview alongside what other people believe and why.
The subject provokes challenging questions about the ultimate meaning and purpose of life, beliefs about God, issues of right and wrong, and what it means to be human. Students develop curiosity, investigation, questioning and evaluation skills while learning to think critically about different religions and worldviews.
Beth Selonke
Curriculum Leader PRS
Sam Hall
Teacher of Art
Curriculum Intent, Implementation & Impact
Our Philosophy & Ethics curriculum is built around three core pillars. Expand the sections below to read our full statements on what we aim to achieve, how we deliver it, and the difference it makes to our students.
Intent
- It is our intent for the philosophy and religious studies element of our school curriculum to engage and inspire pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to answer challenging questions about the world around them and their own beliefs.
- The principal aim is to explore their own worldview and what other people believe and why.
- They can then evaluate what difference this makes to how people live and what influence these beliefs have on the world that we live in.
- The subject provokes challenging questions about the ultimate meaning and purpose of life, beliefs about God, issues of right and wrong, and what it means to be human historically, and in today’s world.
- This challenging subject aims to develop curiosity, investigation, questioning and evaluation skills that develop an aspirational mindset.
- By exploring issues such as feminism, morals, and different religious practices through the lens of secular and religious believers, pupils learn to think critically about different religions.
- Furthermore, we encourage students to consider their own beliefs, values and traditions, and their influence on their own lives, communities and cultures.
- We encourage students to think for themselves and learn how to justify their opinions and ideas through development of their points and arguments that benefits them in their future ability to reason and argue effectively.
- The curriculum will also help them to develop responsibility, respect and tolerance for all aspects of diversity, whether it be social, cultural and religious, and prepare pupils well for life in modern Britain.
- The overarching concepts for Philosophy, Ethics and Religion at Sandy Secondary School are tied in with the whole school vision.
Implementation
- Make sense of a range of religious and non-religious beliefs, so pupils can: Identify, describe, explain, and analyse beliefs and concepts across the six major faiths in KS3, Christianity and Buddhism (GCSE) and Christianity (A-Level), 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.
- Understand the impact and significance of religious and non-religious beliefs, so that pupils can: Examine and explain how and why people express their beliefs in diverse ways, such as religious holidays and moral stories .
- 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, such as worship and pilgrimage.
- Appreciate and appraise the significance of different ways of life and ways of expressing meaning, including those of Humanists and alternate religions.
- Make connections between religious and non-religious beliefs, concepts, practices and ideas studied, so that pupils 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 they study, and consider how these ideas might 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.
Impact
- KS3: Students will build on their prior knowledge from their primary education and begin to learn the lifelong skills of developing and justifying a response.
- This is done through a thematic approach, looking at different beliefs and practices from many different religions and comparing these with secular ideas.
- Considering their own beliefs and worldview, students will develop critical thought and evaluate why people do and believe the things that they do, around the world and their local environment.
- KS4: Pupils will demonstrate a deeper understanding of Christian and Buddhist beliefs, teachings and practices and how these can differ depending on denomination and country.
- Pupils will be able to identify reasons why places and people have religious significance and their importance, such as places of worship or pilgrimage.
- Pupils will confidently articulate justified opinions on ethical issues, such as euthanasia and crime, giving religious, non-religious and personal views.
- Pupils will also be able to evaluate in detail how religious teachings in both Christianity and Buddhism can be applied to contemporary moral issues such as abortion, abuse of the world and conflict.
- They will know how religious organisations support the global problems of injustice and poverty and link religious teachings to these issues.
- Students are encouraged to learn about these two belief systems in detail to enable them to then use this information to argue effectively from religious and secular perspectives.
- KS5: Students will demonstrate a deeper understanding of challenging and complex theories in Philosophy of Religion, Religion and Ethics and Developments in Christian Thought.
- Students will be able to write concisely and succinctly to present a complex series of ideas and evaluate evidence to build a logical argument across the key topic areas.
- The course allows students to develop the ability to make connections and observe differences between key philosophical thinkers.
- Students will be able to explain the key Christian religious beliefs, values and teachings, their interconnections and how they vary historically and in the contemporary world.
- Students will be able to explain the works of influential thinkers and ethical theories and articulate both verbally and in their written work, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the key arguments and how they can be applied to the wider world around them.
Subject Information Sheets
Download curriculum overviews and subject information sheets for Philosophy & Ethics.
Subject Information Sheets
Curriculum documents for Philosophy & Ethics.
