Religion, Philosophy and Ethics

What is Religion Philosophy and Ethics (RPE)?

Religion Philosophy and Ethics (RPE) is the study of religious, philosophical and non-religious worldviews, beliefs, behaviours and institutions, and how they have shaped and continue to shape the world in which we live. At Harris Academy Sutton, RPE curriculum is studied through the lenses of three core disciplines: philosophy, theology and social sciences in order to provide our students with strong and diverse subject knowledge. Through philosophy, students study big, challenging, and sometimes unanswerable questions about the world and our lives. Through theology, students ask deep questions about the nature of divine and divine revelations. Finally, through social sciences lens, students explore different perspectives and methods and viewing social, religious and philosophical concepts and ideas which are influencing our lives. 

Why do we teach RPE at HASU?

RPE is intended to give students an understanding of the world’s most influential and enduring religious, non-religious and philosophical ideas. Over the three years of Key Stage 3, all students will develop their religious and cultural literacy through learning about a range of religious traditions but also non-religious worldviews. In addition, students will be introduced to philosophy through introductions to philosophy or religion, ethics and social philosophy. Should students wish to continue the subject at GCSE, they will develop an even deeper understanding of the world’s two largest religions (Christianity and Islam) and analyse in greater detail how religious beliefs and practices influence life in the modern world today. 

Fundamentally, we teach RPE to develop students’ religious literacy. By this, we mean the knowledge of and ability to understand religion (and by extension our religiously influenced, multicultural, globalised world) and non-religious worldviews. RPE at HASU intends to send our students into the world with an enduring understanding of and appreciation for religion and philosophy. Through RPE, we develop students’ ability to empathise and ask probing questions of the ideas of others. Likewise, we help students to develop their literacy and oracy skills so that they can better understand and engage with the great conversations of humanity. 

Religion Philosophy and Ethics also contributes as an important strand of our efforts as an Academy to promote fundamental British values, our Rights Respecting Schools agenda, and support our students wider social, moral, spiritual and cultural development (SMSC). Underpinning our entire RPE curriculum are norms of tolerance, respect, and curiosity. 

Pragmatically, we believe that a thorough understanding of religion, philosophy and ethics provides a fantastic academic foundation for further study in literature, history, the arts and beyond. We believe that it’s every child’s right to develop a thorough understanding of the ideas that have shaped, and continue to shape, our world. 

How do we teach RPE at HASU at Key Stage 3?

At Key Stage 3, each year is focussed on a series of core learning questions (there are 11 core learning topics throughout the Key Stage 3), which are addressed throughout the period of study. We study the variety of different religious and non-religious worldviews using the lenses of theology, philosophy and social sciences. Our inquiry questions are thematically studied and are linked to the aforementioned lenses. For example, our first topic in year 7 is a philosophical topic – How do humans find meaning – which explores diversity of worldviews and different ways how they are formed. 

Students address our core learning questions in a variety of ways: through discussion, engagement with sources and resources, and through engaging in genuine philosophical discourse of their own. We encourage students to engage with narrative and stories, and to evaluate the significance and implications of sacred texts for believers. 

We believe that the explicit teaching of religious and philosophical vocabulary is fundamental to success in RPE, and encourage students to deliberately practice their reading, writing and speaking in this subject. 

How do we teach Religious Studies at HASU at Key Stage 4?

Students will have the option of studying Religious Studies at GCSE as part of our broad and balanced Key Stage 4 curriculum. At Key Stage 4, students will focus their studies on two strands: 

• The study of religions: beliefs, teachings, and practices

• Thematic studies

These strands are taught alongside one another over the two years of the course, and at HASU we focus on the world’s two largest faiths: Christianity and Islam. Students will address these strands through the study of a sequence of learning questions over time, and as part of this study will engage in close analysis of religious scripture and investigation of contemporary religious practices. In a Key Stage 4 RS lesson, students might analyse a Bible passage, watch a short extract from a documentary on Street Pastors, and then tackle an extended written question on the role of the church in modern society. 

What exam board do we study and Key Stage 4?

Students studying RS follow the AQA Religious Studies A (8062) Specification. 

This specification can be found here. 

AQA | Religious Studies | GCSE | GCSE Religious Studies 

What is Philosophy?

Philosophy is the study of a variety of fundamental questions about the nature of ourselves and the world we live in. These questions are very wide-ranging. What is common to all areas of philosophy is an emphasis on clarity and on precise, careful, rigorous arguments. It also encourages critical thinking, logical analysis, and the exploration of ideas that shape our understanding of the world and ourselves. Philosophers investigate concepts such as truth, knowledge, justice, free will, and the nature of consciousness, often challenging assumptions and expanding perspectives. Engaging with philosophy helps develop intellectual curiosity, argumentation skills, and a deeper appreciation for the complexity of human thought.

Why do we teach Philosophy at HASU?

At Harris Academy Sutton, we teach philosophy to develop students’ critical and argumentative thinking. Our students will learn to be clear and precise in their thinking and writing. They will engage with complex and demanding philosophical texts, analysing and evaluating the arguments of others and constructing and defending their own arguments. This will help them to formulate their own worldviews and navigate their academic positions throughout this complex and everchanging world. Topics like moral philosophy and metaphysics of mind offer to students a variety of worldviews in two of the most mainstream areas of modern-day philosophy, enabling them to stay up to date with the most relevant issues.

How do we teach Philosophy at HASU?

Our A Level Philosophy curriculum follows the AQA specification and is structured around 4 key themes and topics. In Year 12, students study Epistemology which is the philosophical study of knowledge and its limits, and Moral Philosophy which is the philosophical study of ethics (morality). In Year 13, students engage with two metaphysical themes, the Metaphysics of God (exploring questions about the nature of divine and its existence) and the Metaphysics of Mind (which includes traditional and modern theories of conciseness).

Lessons are designed to be thought-provoking and discussion-based, encouraging students to engage with philosophical though experiments, theories, arguments and debates. Students learn to compose valid and sound arguments, to thing, ask relevant questions, explore, argue for and against and evaluate a variety of different traditional and modern philosophical positions. Students are encouraged to draw on their independent learning in lessons to allow them to explore themes further.

What exam board do we study?

Students studying philosophy follow the AQA A-level Philosophy specification (7172).

This specification can be found here.

Teaching religious education

Teaching religious education is a statutory part of the National Curriculum for all students, except for those students whose parents/carers exercise the right of withdrawal.  Further information can be found here.  If you want to discuss any aspects of the curriculum in more detail, please contact the school via the contact us page in the first instance.