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Religious Studies and Philosophy
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Head of
Religious Studies
Ms E.C. Jameson
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Religious Studies is taught throughout the school and follows a carefully crafted plan enabling students to develop a growing awareness and understanding of religion and religious attitudes. With a Methodist foundation and ethos Kent College is committed to Christian principles, and Christianity is the primary religion taught across the years
All students pursue a GCSE course through years 10 and 11 in which they examine and debate moral issues within a Christian context, whilst the optional AS/A level course in years 12 and 13 considers philosophical and ethical issues, again within a Christian context.
The philosophy club meets every week and the department has clinics to provide extra support with prep and exam preparation.
Throughout the teaching of Religious Studies an open and honest approach is fostered that allows an environment to be created in which students feel able to share their own ideas and develop their own beliefs and ideologies.
Religious Studies is set out as follows:
Key Stage 3 (Years 7 - 9)
Introduced this academic year the brand new 'Think RE' course is an issues based course that raises students' performance in RE, and encourages them to think for themselves.
The Religious Studies Department aim to encourage pupils to develop positive attitudes to their learning and to the beliefs and values of others by promoting:
self-awareness
respect for all
open-mindedness
appreciation and wonder.
Key Stage 4 Years 10 - 11
GCSE
RE is a compulsory element on the curriculum at KC and students may choose to study one of two ways.
Full Course GCSE : Students may opt for the full course GCSE studying four periods a week through Years 10 and 11 and sit two two hour papers at the conclusion of the course.
Short Course GCSE : Students who do not opt for Full Course GCSE are automatically entered for the Short Course which is time tabled for two periods a week and concludes with one two hour exam.In both the short and full course RE students begin to apply their knowledge of Christianity to some important moral and ethical issues. Abortion, Euthanasia and the Sanctity of Life are some of the issues discussed and debated. The course continues into Year 11 with an examination of the philosophical arguments for the existence of God, a look at environmental issues and how Christians are to view the environment and issues relating to death and dying.
AS/A Level Philosophy and Ethics
In Years 12 and 13 we follow a Philosophy and Ethics Course. Four periods a week are devoted to the study of philosophy and four to ethics. In Philosophy students examine such topics as: the arguments for the existence of God, different views of life after death, resurrection and rebirth religious experience, distinctions between body and soul in the thinking of Plato, John Hick and Richard Dawkins and the use of symbol, analogy and myth to express human understanding of God.
In Ethics students study the use of ethical language
Ethical theories: Virtue Ethics, Natural Law, Situation ethics, the Categorical Imperative and Utilitarianis Concepts of absolute and relative morality
The nature and role of conscience
Practical Ethics: environmental ethics, sex and relationships, war, peace and justice
Examination Board
Through GCSE and AS/A level the department follows an OCR recommended course.
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