Students who choose to study Philosophy and Ethics at Key Stage 5 follow the AQA Religious Studies A level course. 

Philosophy and Ethics at Marlborough is taught by teachers who are incredibly enthusiastic and love teaching their subject. Lessons are informative, engaging and thought-provoking, giving students the opportunity to debate their ideas with their peers, challenging them to reflect on and refine their own thoughts. 

Course Content

Component 1: Philosophy of Religion and Ethics:

• Section A: Philosophy of religion - students will develop knowledge and understanding of the following:

Arguments for the existence of God The problem of evil and suffering Religious experience Religious language Miracles Self and life after death

• Section B: Ethics and Religion - students will develop knowledge and understanding of the following:

Ethical theories Issues of human life and death Issues of animal life and death Meta ethics Free will and moral responsibility Conscience Bentham and Kant

Component 2: Study of Religion and Dialogues:

• Study of Christianity - students will study aspects of the religious beliefs, teachings, values and practices of Christianity and the different ways in which these are expressed in the lives of individuals, communities and societies with particular reference to:

Sources of wisdom and authority God/gods/ultimate reality Self, death and the afterlife Good conduct and key moral principles Expressions of religious identity Gender and sexuality Science Secularisation Religious pluralism

• The dialogue between philosophy of religion, ethical studies and religion - how religion is influenced by, and has influence on the philosophy of religion and ethical students relating to the issues stated above. 

Assessment

All assessment in the course is by written examination. Students will take two papers at the end of their course:

• Paper 1: Philosophy of Religion and Ethics, worth 50% of the final grade
• Paper 2: Study of Religion and Dialogues, worth 50% of the final grade

Philosophy and Ethics A level is an extremely useful foundation for further study and careers in the following areas: Community and youth work, teaching, journalism, policing, medicine, law, social care, psychology, human resources, diversity and inclusion work.

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