Curriculum – KS5 Religion, Ethics and Philosophy

About this subject

Examination Board: AQA

Link to Specification: Click here.

Course Content

Students will complete the linear specification, studying one Religion in depth and then apply this knowledge to the study of Philosophy and Ethics.

Component 1: Philosophy of Religion and Ethics

Section A: Philosophy

Arguments for the existence of God
Evil and suffering.
Religious experience.
Philosophy and Language
Philosophy and Miracles
Philosophy of Life and Death

Section B: Ethics

Ethical theories.
Issues of human life and death.
Issues of animal life and death.
Introduction to meta ethics.
Free will and moral responsibility.
Conscience.
Bentham and Kant.

Component 2: Study of Religion and Dialogues

Section A: Study of religion – For each faith option (2A–2E) the following topics are covered:

Sources of wisdom and authority.
God/gods/ultimate reality.
Self, death and the afterlife.
Good conduct and key moral principles.
Expression of religious identity.
Religion and Sexuality
Religious Pluralism
Science and Religion
Religion and secularisation.

How it’s assessed

Written exam:
Philosophy and Ethics = 3 hours (100 Marks)
Christianity – 3 Hours (100 Marks)

Questions

Section A: Study of religion – two compulsory two-part questions, each worth 10 marks and 15 marks relating to the religion chosen. Questions may be set that span more than one topic. In each two-part question, the first part tests AO1 and the second part tests AO2.
Section B: The dialogue between philosophy of religion and religion – one unstructured synoptic question from a choice of two (25 marks).
Section C: The dialogue between ethical studies and religion – one unstructured synoptic question from a choice of two (25 marks)

Skills Gained from Taking this Course

  • Develop analytical and communication skills enabling you to be persuasive and critical.
  • Learn how to formulate a convincing argument.
  • You will be taught how to write A Level standard essays.
  • Critically analyse source material.
  • Be confident with your ideas and think logically.

St Marylebone Entry Requirements

To gain entry into the sixth form at St Marylebone School, students must gain a minimum of five 9-6 grades at GCSE and a 5 grade in English and Maths GCSE.

Subject Specific Entry Requirements

Grade 6 in English Language GCSE. RS at GCSE is not essential.

Entry Suggestions

Students need to be able to write long essays in a short amount of time. So whilst we do not ask for RS GCSE (as this is not necessary) they will need to realistically be looking at a B or more in English to be successful.
Beyond that students should have an open mind and an ability to take part in debate and discussion on a range of issues.

If you are made an offer, you will be expected to complete the following before your first lesson in September:

Read any of the following books:
Peter Vardy: The Thinkers Guide to God and the The Thinkers Guide to Evil
Peter Vardy: The Puzzle of Ethics and/or the Puzzle of God
Peter Vardy: God Matters or Ethics Matters
Richard Dawkins: The God Delusion
Nigel Warburton: Philosophy the Basics
Christopher Hitchins: God is not great
Peter Singer: Practical Ethics
Karen Armsotrng: A History of God

Create a project booklet on Christianity using

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/

Cover all of the sections available here.

Resources Needed for this Course:

No specific textbook required.