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P & R

Head of Faculty: Mr McKavanagh - SMCKAVANAGH@LARKMEAD.VALE-ACADEMY.ORG

Key Stage 3

In Years 7 and 8 we will begin to explore the greatest ideas of all time as we grapple with thoughts, theories and arguments from philosophy, religion and ethics. By studying P&R you will develop into great thinkers and speakers. Discussion lies at the heart of our journey to becoming accomplished philosophers, you will learn to successfully argue and defend your view on questions such as ‘should we follow rules?’ or ‘is it ever right to end a life?’

We will learn from a diverse range of thinkers, from figures such as the Buddha, or Jesus, through to philosophers such as Hannah Arendt or Mary Wollstonecraft. Together we will see how the ideas we explore stretch beyond those of just the P&R classroom but relate to the other subjects you study in school as well as everyday life

Key Stage 4

The GCSE is an increasingly popular option, as we build on your skills developed in Key Stage 3. Students have the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge, whilst also benefiting from the options of school trips and visits from external speakers. Whilst learning exam content is a key focus, we continue to develop speaking and debate skills.

The GCSE is split into three sections:

  • Christianity
    • Beliefs and teachings
    • Practices
  • Islam
    • Beliefs and teachings
    • Practices
  • Philosophy and Ethics
    • Relationships and families
    • The existence of God
    • Religion, peace and conflict
    • Dialogue

The GCSE prepares you for a range of A-Level options (such as Religious Studies, Philosophy and Sociology) as well as preparing you for a wide range of careers.

Students have whole cohort RE lessons in Year 9.

Key Stage 5

At A-Level there are different routes you can take, both are equally fascinating and complement each other well, neither require previous study at Key Stage 4 to be able to study:

Religious Studies

This builds directly on the GCSE, we study three key topics:

  • Philosophy of Religion
  • Religion and ethics
  • Development in Christian thought

This prepares you for further study across the Humanities or Social Sciences as well as equipping you with important skills for the workplace.

Philosophy

There are four key areas, some of which will build on content that those who have studied Religious Studies GCSE will be familiar with:

  • Epistemology (The theory of knowledge)
  • Moral Philosophy
  • Metaphysics of God
  • Metaphysics of Mind

The Philosophy A-Level is a great option for those wanting to study Philosophy at University but is also a great primer for those wanting to go on to further study in a range of subjects across the Humanities and also the sciences.

Philosophy equips you with a range of skills to help prepare you for the world of work, you’ll learn how to consider different points of view, how to make a successful argument and give you important analytical skills. All of these are important for any job you may go on to do.