Ever since humankind started to think, religion has been a fundamental part of our development. As people look into the vastness of space or witness the miracle of birth, they contemplate the meaning of life and their own mortality. It has always been this way. In the twenty first century, religion still addresses the same eternal human questions about life and death, values and relationships, right and wrong. Philosophy & Ethics is an inclusive subject designed for people of any faith and people who have no faith. If you are keen to discover moral, ethical and philosophical issues in the world today, then it could be for you. It is a subject that will develop the skill of being able to see both sides of an argument even when you disagree with it.

AQA

External Examination: 2 examination of 1¾ hours each

You will study a mixture of Philosophical, Ethical and Religious themes including Crime & Punishment, Peace & Conflict, Origins of Life, Animal Rights, Prejudice & Discrimination, Abortion & Euthanasia and Life after Death to name a few, all from the perspective of secular opinion, plus the study of two major world religions, to give a cross-section of modern society.

A GCSE in Philosophy & Ethics (Religious Studies) is a solid foundation for any career prospect that involves you coming into contact with other people. The skills developed within the course allow you to develop your ability to value both sides of an argument and deepen your understanding of the world in which we live. Professions particularly interested in this subject are medicine, law, teaching, journalism, civil service and politics to name just a few. The careers this subject could lead you to is :

• Broadcaster
• Civil Servant
• Coroner
• Court Clerk
• Court Reporter
• Educational Psychologist
• Education Researcher
• Fire Service
• Journalist
• Judge
• Lawyer
• Lecturer
• Local Government Services
• Police Officer
• Primary Teacher
• Researcher
• Secondary Teacher
• Social Media Writer
• The Armed Forces
• TV/Radio Procedure

From a Student Perspective

I am so glad that I chose to study Philosophy & Ethics as it has become one of my favourite subjects. I love being given the opportunity to debate key ethical topics as it really helps you to understand different views to your own. Philosophy is really exciting and gets you thinking about abstract and deep issues such as immortality. There is never a dull moment in the Philosophy & Ethics department and the staff are really helpful and friendly. - Year 11 Student