Page 29 - Options Booklet - March 2022

Option Subject – GCSE Religion, Philosophy and Ethics

Course Overview

GCSE Religion, Philosophy and Ethics is a lively and stimulating GCSE option that provides
students with a great opportunity to engage with current issues, highly charged debates
and study designed to develop their social, cultural and political awareness. We ask
challenging questions about beliefs and values, consider whether religion is still relevant in
st
the 21 century and how it influences our sense of morality as we decide which actions
are right and wrong.

There are two sides to the course: Religion and Philosophy asks “big” questions of the
world around us such as “is there a God?”, “why do we suffer?” and “has our scientific
understanding of the world made religion more or less important?” Students will consider
their own opinion alongside teachings from Christianity and Islam. Additionally, through
the study of Ethics, students will consider moral issues such as whether we have the “right”
to die, is the death penalty an acceptable punishment and is marriage outdated in
modern society.
Lessons are active and engaging and always offer students an opportunity to share their
opinions. We learn skills such as analysis and evaluation through debates and discussion
which then become transferable to other subjects and to later life. Students will develop
their ability to share their opinions in a constructive manner as well as how to deconstruct
other points of view in an academic and respectful way.

This course can guide many students into careers such as law, journalism, teaching,
politics, medicine, criminology, armed forces, police and health and social care. It is
primarily based in an interest in people and will be useful if having to use analytic,
evaluative or persuasive skills.

Specification: AQA Religious Studies (Option A).

Final exam: Two papers in Summer 2023.

Course Code: 8062.

Exams Percentage of Comprising of Completed
course
Paper 1 - Religions 50% Islam Beliefs Year 11
Islam Practices
Christian Beliefs
Christian Practices
Paper 2 – Ethical 50% Relationships and Family Year 11
Studies Religion and Life
Religion, Crime and Punishment
Religion, Peace and Conflict
Who should I speak to about this subject? Mrs E Smith (Deputy Head Teacher).