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Langley Grammar School

Langley Grammar School

Philosophy and Ethics (RE)

Religious Education is a compulsory core area of study throughout Years 7-13, and an optional subject for further study at GCSE and A Level.

In Years 7- 9, Christianity, Sikhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and secular views, are all studied. Teaching is aligned with the Slough Agreed Syllabus.

In Years 10-11, all students study religious and secular attitudes from the 6 main world religions through a variety of modern ethical dilemmas e.g. euthanasia.  Students may also opt to follow the GCSE (9-1) Religious Studies course (referred to as Religious Studies to distinguish it from the non-GCSE curriculum) which will earn them a qualification at the end of Year 11. This specification focusses on Christianity and Islam.

In the Sixth Form, a general Philosophy & Ethics program is in place, where students cover the required 12 hours of study over the two years via whole year group activities including debates and visiting speakers. An A Level in Religious Studies is also available in years 12 and 13 for those who opt for it.

For further information please refer to the school’s policy on Religious Education and statement on Collective Worship.

 

Years 7 and 8

During Years 7 and 8 the following topics are taught.

Year 7 Year 8
  • What is belief?
  • What do people believe about god?
  • Buddhism: key beliefs and practices
  • What happens when we die?
  • Young philosopher 2 (a varety of lessons looking at 'What is the mind?' 'What is a person?' 'Do we need to be governed?' 'Should we obey the government?')
  • Alternative belief systems (confucianism, jediism, zoroastrianism)
  • Prejudice
  • Poverty
  • War and peace
  • Evil and suffering
  • Hinduism: key beliefs and practices
  • Young philosopher 1 (hedonism, can violence be justified, doubt and certainty: sense deception, where do ideas come from?)

 

GCSE (Years 9 to 11)

Students studying the subject at GCSE follow the OCR Religious Studies J625AA specification. During the course the following topics are covered.

Year 9 Year 10 Year 11

Christianity beliefs, teachings and practices:

  • The nature of God
  • Creation
  • The problem of evil
  • Key events in the life of Jesus
  • Life after death
  • Worship
  • Sacraments
  • Prayer
  • Pilgrimage
  • Celebrations
  • Role of church in community and wider world

 

Islam beliefs, teachings and practices:

  • Core beliefs
  • Nature of Allah
  • Prophethood
  • Books
  • Angels
  • Life after death
  • The importance of practices

Islam continued from year 9:

  • Public and private acts of worship
  • The 5 pillars
  • Festivals
  • Jihad

Religion, philosophy and ethics in the modern world from a Christian perspective:

  • Relationships and families
  • Dialogue within and between religious and non-religious beliefs and attitudes

Religion, philosophy and ethics in the modern world from a Christian perspective continued:

  • Religion, peace and conflict
  • The existence of god

For more detailed information on the course content and assessment please refer to the examination board website: http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-religious-studies-j625-j125-from-2016/

 

A Level

Students studying the subject at A Level follow the OCR Religious Studies H573 specification. During the course the following topics are covered.

Year 12 Year 13

Philosophy of religion

  • Ancient philosophy: Plato
  • Aristotle and causation
  • Soul, mind and body
  • Arguments about the existence or non-existence of God
  • Religious experience
  • The problem of evil

 

Religion and Ethics

  • Aquinas and natural law
  • Situation ethics
  • Kantian ethics
  • Utilitarianism
  • Euthanasia
  • Business ethics

 

Developments in Christianity

  • Augustine on human nature
  • Death and the afterlife
  • Knowledge of God’s existence
  • Jesus Christ
  • Christian moral principles
  • Christian moral action: Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Philosophy of religion

  • The nature and attributes of God
  • Religious language: negative, analogical or symbolic
  • Twentieth century  perspectives and philosophical comparisons

 

Religion and Ethics

  • Meta-ethical theories
  • Conscience
  • Sexual ethics

 

Developments in Christianity

  • Religious pluralism and theology
  • Religious pluralism and society
  • Gender and society
  • Gender and theology
  • The challenge of secularism
  • Liberation theology and Marx

For more detailed information on the course content and assessment please refer to the examination board website: http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/as-a-level-gce-religious-studies-h173-h573-from-2016/

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