Subjects
Religious Studies
Religious Studies is a creative, challenging and endlessly-useful subject. Pupils learn how to construct and articulate an argument, to write cogently and coherently, and to think critically. These essential life skills are of particular value for the many who have gone on to read Philosophy at university.
The Department is staffed by two experienced and passionate subject specialists who, between them, have taught to postgraduate level and published journal articles and teaching resources, and organise lively Department trips including Sixth Form conferences and visits to religious sites.
Religious Studies is compulsory for Year 9 pupils. Those who continue their studies at GCSE level consider the answers provided by different faiths to the big questions surrounding being a good human being, and to explore their own beliefs and reasoning. This runs in tandem with a Philosophy course on which they explore the history of society and the self in relation to the evolution of ideas.
At A-level, the Philosophy, Ethics and Religion syllabus is as engaging as it is demanding. On this course, pupils consider the ideas of eminent thinkers on a wide range of philosophical problems, and formulate their own views and navigate their own paths between apparently conflicting ideologies.
Teacher profile
Teacher profile
Anne Gunn
Anne began her career teaching undergraduates, and then began working in schools through Philosophy with Children as part of her postgraduate research, enrolling as a specialist teacher at a grammar school.
She is particularly interested in the development of pupils’ critical, analytic and creative thinking skills, and believes that Philosophy, Ethics and Religious Studies is ideally placed to allow pupils to develop a self-reflective and creative attitude, while becoming aware of how others think and feel through the study of other religions and cultures.