Philosophy, Beliefs and Ethics

Our aim is to enrich our students through a thought-provoking curriculum that engages students and allows them to explore different worldviews in order to nurture inquisitive, curious, tolerant and critically thinking young people. The department offers distinctive opportunities to promote spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. The subject enables students to gain a better understanding of the world around whilst developing respect for other peoples’ views and the diversity in society; building essential cultural capital.

There is also a clear focus on developing key skills and knowledge required the subject and for the world today. The use of evidence to help explain beliefs and practices and we are developing higher order skills, such as evaluation and analysis from Key Stage 3 as these skills essential for progress but also for life.

Curriculum

Throughout all Key Stages Philosophy, Beliefs and Ethics (PBE) explores different religions and worldviews. This will include an understanding of major world religions as well as humanism and their views on ethical topics.

Year 7 begins with an exploration of why people do/do not believe in God and some basic beliefs found within Christianity and Islam before investigating if Buddha’s teachings are relevant today and if the Sikh teachings on equality are important in today’s society. Key Stage 3 continues to explore challenges facing Muslims in Britain today before investigating who Jesus was, were his teachings radical and how have they inspired people to combat injustice around the world. Students also evaluate evidence for the soul and different beliefs about the afterlife. As they progress through this Key Stage they have an opportunity to look at ethical theories before applying them to ethical situations such as the death penalty and organ transplantation. Philosophical questioning flows through all our curriculum but gains a greater focus in the later years.

The department has chosen Eduqas for both GCSE and A Level; nominating Islam as the chosen second religion at GCSE and Buddhism as our in depth study at A Level. Both courses nurture and demand an understanding of different perspective and a critical evaluative mind in order to succeed. Students will explore issues such as immigration, capital punishment, euthanasia, abortion as well as the use of nuclear weapons as a deterrent, alongside philosophical questions surrounding the existence of God and if evil challenges this belief.

We have specifically designed the curriculum to ensure progression and to help students gain an in-depth understanding of worldviews and perspectives. Spiral learning ensures material is revisited and built upon throughout their time at The Cotswold School.

Broadening students’ cultural capital, nurturing their inquisitiveness and critical thinking skills is intrinsic to what the subject is all about. It helps students explore their own views in a safe environment, analyse their own beliefs and others before coming to their own conclusions about belief and ethical situations. It grounds students and helps them understand what people of all backgrounds believe and why people believe them – a skills and an ability crucial for all workplaces in today’s society.

Approaches to Learning and Assessment

Students engage in the debate and discussions in class but there is no escaping the focus on literacy in the subject. Students will engage with and analyse texts to study their validity and meaning. This is nurtured throughout the Key Stages so students have a wide range of sophisticated vocabulary and are able to critically evaluate scholarly and philosophical views the further they get through the school.

Assessments are ongoing – from oral contributions in class, to knowledge, written pieces and assessment essays such as ‘”The death penalty is wrong”’ discuss this statement’ – all allow teachers to adapt their teaching to ensure all students progress and are challenged accordingly.

Supporting Individual Students

All students will be challenged in different ways – as all students are different! Extension articles at A Level from our subscription journals ensure that students can be reading a wide range of philosophical and ethical views. In class we are familiar with every student’s need and can adapt our teaching to help each one.

Extra-Curricular Opportunities

The GCSE students will visit Gloucester mosque and cathedral to complement their learning relating to Islam and Christianity. All Key Stage 4 students will be able to watch Oddments Theatre Company, tell the story of John Newman’s involvement in the slave trade and his conversion experience. We welcome Paul Bolam – a neurologist who explains how and why animals are used in medical research which will help students formulate their own opinion on this sensitive topic.

We run a weekly Philosophy Club for all students where open inquiry and debate is encouraged. Students prepare and deliver their own presentations, allowing other students from varying year groups, to engage in conversations about the content and to enhance their own views in the process.

Sharing Success

We are extremely proud of our students and their results at Key Stages 3, 4 and 5. We have had national winners in the Spirited Arts Competition and in the Global Acts of Unity Poetry Competition. In 2024, 51% of our GCSE students achieved a grade 8/9 with 80% achieving a grade 6 or above. At A Level 83% achieved an A*/A and 100% gained A* – B.

This is testament to their hard work, dedication and enjoyment of the subject.