“Wisdom begins with wonder”
Socrates
Curricular Intent:
To develop informed, open-minded, and tolerant global citizens who engage critically with a range of diverse issues that challenge us as humans.
KS5 Overview
At KS5, students study A level Religious Studies. There are three components: Buddhism, Philosophy of Religion and Religion and Ethics.
Building on KS4 and preparing for Post 18
Students have studied Buddhism in KS3 and so will have some knowledge of it. Students will have covered the problem of evil (philosophy of religion) as part of GCSE Religious Studies. Ethical theories, such as utilitarianism, are also covered in parts of GCSE Religious Studies.
Students can go on to study a wide range of degrees at university. Previous students have told us that content studied at A Level, in particular ethics, has formed part of their degrees in law, medicine, accountancy, and criminology.
KS5 Assessment
Each lesson has a recap of prior learning and opportunities to check for understanding and misconceptions through low stakes quizzes.
Students are given formal, teacher assessed tasks regularly on a rota basis. Feedback is given and students improve their answer and set targets for their next assessment.
KS5 Content
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Y12 Content Autumn |
Buddhism - including: the life of the Buddha and Buddhist texts. Philosophy of religion, including - arguments for the existence of God (design, cosmological and ontological). Religion and ethics: utilitarianism and the application of this to the ethical issues of animal experimentation for medical testing and nuclear deterrence as well as Situation Ethics and the application of this to homosexuality and polyamorous relationships. |
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Y12 Content Spring |
Buddhism - including: key Buddhists principles, 4 Noble Truths, Eightfold Path and meditation. Philosophy of religion: Challenges to religious belief including: the problem of evil, new atheism and ‘is religion a human construct?’ Religion and ethics: Introduction to ethical thought, looking at Divine Command Theory, Virtue Ethics, Ethical Egoism, Natural Law and the application of this to abortion and voluntary euthanasia. |
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Y12 Content Summer |
Buddhism - including: the contribution made to the development of Buddhist thought by the work of contemporary Buddhist teachers. Philosophy of religion: Religious experience 1 – types of religious experiences. Religion and ethics: The development of natural law from John Finnis and the application of this to the ethical issues of immigration and capital punishment |
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Y12 Content Autumn |
Buddhism - including: the historical development of Buddhism and the relationship between Buddhism and society. Philosophy of religion: Religious experience 2 – miracles and challenges to religious experiences. Religion and ethics: Introduction to Meta-Ethics looking at Naturalism, Intuitivism and Emotivism. |
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Y12 Content Spring |
Buddhism - including: religion, equality and discrimination (role of women in Buddhism), the Mindfulness Movement and socially engaged Buddhism. Philosophy of religion: Religious language – can we talk meaningfully about God/ religious concepts? Religion and ethics: Concepts of Determinism and Free Will. |
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Y12 Content Summer |
Revision. |
Exam Board and website link:
Eduqas A level Religious Studies
AS and A Level Religious Studies | Eduqas
Details of external assessment:
There are three papers, each two hours and each worth a third of the total mark.
Paper 1 – Buddhism
Paper 2 – Philosophy of religion
Paper 3 – Religion and ethics.
For each paper students will have to write 2 essays, each of which has two parts. Part a) (worth 20 marks) assesses their knowledge and understanding and part b) (worth 30 marks) assesses their ability to evaluate.
Useful links & resources for KS4:
Crash Course Philosophy Preview - YouTube
The Panpsycast Philosophy Podcast
BuddhaNet - Worldwide Buddhist Information and Education Network
Current Teaching Staff:
Mrs D Bloomfield – Head of Department
Miss R Thompson
Ms K Williams
Examination board and syllabus:
Eduqas Religious Studies