What is the Department Vision?
Religion, Ethics and Philosophy (REP) at Rossett School encourages students to investigate and discuss different cultures, lifestyles, moral choices and belief systems. In Year 7 pupils will study a variety of different religions and cultures and in Year 8 will move on to our Introduction to Ethics and Philosophy course. Our aim is to promote a positive attitude towards diversity of both belief and opinion in order to get pupils involved and interested in current affairs and issues that will affect their lives.
Students will learn the ability to express their own opinion and to listen and discuss other people’s views on a variety of social, moral and religious issues. We want our pupils to prepare for adult life by using these critical thinking skills to engage effectively with their community and the wider national and global society that they are preparing to be part of.
KS3
What will my child be studying?
Year 7 |
Year 8 |
| In Religion, Ethics & Philosophy you will complete an REP Passport to show your knowledge of the beginnings and beliefs of the main world religions.
You will also explore worship, festivals and pilgrimage.
Areas of study: – Hindu – Judaism – Buddhism – Christianity – Islam – Sikhism – Humanism
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In Year 8 you will investigate and discuss ethical issues such as war and the use of animals in experiments. You will think about moral issues that you think are right or wrong, look at other people’s point of view and explain how humans make difficult moral decisions.
We will then move on to study philosophy. You will discuss and give your own ideas about some of the biggest questions humans have – ‘Do humans have a soul that lives on after death?’ and ‘If God is real why does he allow evil and suffering?’
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What equipment will my child need?
- Pen, pencil, eraser, ruler, green pen
- REP exercise book for assessments and an assessment record form (provided by the department)
How can I support my child through KS3 REP?
By looking through their exercise books at their personalised targets and discussion how they can improve their next piece of work.
By looking at their assessment record form which records their assessment levels.
By checking students are acting on their feedback.
By monitoring the completion of homework projects.
By encouraging them to discuss their learning and relevant world events and issues that relate to REP.
How will my child be assessed in KS3 REP?
Students are assessed via formative assessments and are familiar with skills and level criteria. The level criteria will be available for parents and guardians to see in the front of pupils exercise books.
KS4
What exam board do we use?
Religious Studies B: Philosophy and Applied Ethics
How is the course assessed?
There will be no coursework element in this subject.
Philosophy 1 – Belief in God, spiritual experience and the afterlife.
Philosophy 2 – Good and evil, reason and revelation and religion and science.
Ethics 1 – Human relationships, medical ethics and poverty and wealth.
Ethics 2 – Peace and justice, equality and media.
How long are the examinations?
There are 4 units – each unit is assessed via a one hour examination at the end of the year. Total examination time — four hours.
Are there controlled assessments?
No
What is covered on the course?
Philosophy 1— Belief in God, Spiritual Experience and the afterlife.
Philosophy 2— Good and evil, reason and revelation and religion and science.
Ethics 1— Human relationships, medical ethics and poverty and wealth.
Ethics 2— Peace and justice, equality and media.
Where would we suggest visiting?
Religious places of worship or sites of cultural importance.
Museums that may have a moral focus (for example we study the holocaust as an example of moral evil).
What websites would you recommend?
BBC Bitesize Revision:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/rs/
BBC Ethics:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/guide/
BBC Religion:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/
The Guardian Ethics:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/ethics
What equipment will my child need?
- Pen, pencil, eraser, ruler, green pen.
- Philosophy and Ethics exercise book for notes and a Philosophy and Ethics assessment book with assessment form (provided by the department).
How can I support my child through KS4 Philosophy and Ethics?
By looking through their assessment books at their personalised targets, and looking at their assessment record form which records their target grades.
By checking students are acting on their feedback.
By encouraging them to discuss their learning and to read and watch the news and relevant documentaries.
How will my child be assessed in KS4 Philosophy and Ethics?
Through content tests and the completion of past paper questions.
KS5
What exam board do we use?
OCR
http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/as-a-level-gce-religious-studies-h172-h572/
How is the course assessed?
You will do two 1.5 HOUR examinations in year 12 and a further two in Year 13. There will be no coursework element.
How long are the examinations?
1.5 hours
Are there controlled assessments?
No
What is covered on the course?
AS Ethics:
Ethical Theories:
- Absolutism and Relativism
- Objectivism and Subjectivism
- Deontological and Teleological
- Natural Law
- Kantian Ethics
- Utilitarianism
- Situation Ethics
AS Philosophy
- Plato
- Aristotle
- The Judaeo/Christian concept of God:
- Arguments for God
- Arguments against God
A2 Ethics
- Meta Ethics
- Virtue Ethics
- Free Will and Determinism
- Conscience
A2 Philosophy
- Afterlife
- Nature of God
- Religious Language
- Religious Experience
- Miracles
Where would we suggest visiting?
- Religious places of worship or sites of cultural importance.
- Museums that may have a moral focus.
What websites would you recommend?
Philosophical Investigations (for Ethics and Philosophy):
http://www.philosophicalinvestigations.co.uk/index.php/ethics
BBC Ethics:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/guide/
BBC Religion:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/
The Guardian Ethics:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/ethics
What equipment will my child need?
- Pen, pencil, eraser, ruler, green pen.
- Note book/folder with paper.
- Philosophy and Ethics assessment book with assessment form (provided by the department).
How can I support my child through KS5 Philosophy and Ethics?
By looking through their assessment books at their personalised targets, and looking at their assessment record form which records their target grades.
By checking students are acting on their feedback.
By encouraging them to discuss their learning and to read and watch the news and relevant documentaries.
How will my child be assessed in KS5 Philosophy and Ethics?
Through content tests and the completion of past paper questions.
