Philosophy & Religious Studies

Philosophy and Theology VI Form

AS and A Level Religious Studies

This subject is one of the A level options for study in the VI Form. You can read more about it on the A level subjects pages.

VI Form core Philosophy and Theology

All VI Form pupils undertake a carousel programme of philosophy and theology over two years with a focus on the relationship between faith and reason and the mutual connections between philosophy and religion. The course content responds to the needs of the VIth form cohort and to the dynamic life of the Catholic Church, below are some examples of programmes offered:

Philosophy

The Religion, Ethics and Philosophy department is committed to educate students in the spirit of friendship and love, which has been the ideal of philosophy since ancient Greek times. Our students are strengthened not only in their commitment of the pursuit of knowledge and truth, but also in the lifelong practice of virtue as exemplified in the classical Greek concept of paideia. The course is designed to provide students with the philosophical concepts required to understand the world around them. Students study the basic tenants of the Aristotelian philosophy of realism with some exposure to primary texts such as Plato’s Apology of Socrates and The Euthyphro. They further engage in examining such metaphysical concepts as substance, accident and essence which form the basis of realist philosophical thinking, and undertake a course introducing them to ethical discourse and application.

Theology

Theology lessons seek to engage students in the rich Catholic culture that has been passed down from generation to generation. Firstly, we aspire to give our students an intellectual education in the Catholic Faith and secondly, the encouragement to make a personal decision to follow Christ more closely. Theology lessons have regularly scheduled visits to the chapel and the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Penance and participate in the Holy Mass.

Moral Theology

The purpose of this course is to teach the fundamental concepts and principles of morality to enable each student to apply this knowledge to the concrete circumstances of their lives. The students study, for example: Theology of the Body; Catholic teaching on marriage; the role of the family in society; and Catholic Social Doctrine. This course is taught in a natural law vocabulary to facilitate discussion of moral issues in a democratic society.

The Life of Christ in St. Mark’s Gospel.

St. Mark paints a portrait of Jesus that is vivid, dynamic and focused on His miracles and His divine Sonship. Students examine the hidden themes that St. Mark employed, like a master composer, to orchestrate his magnificent work. This dazzling study looks beyond the Evangelist’s almost breathless account of Our Lord’s life to unpack the rich depth of spiritual treasures that lie just beneath the surface. As students uncover the fascinating background and amazing details of St. Mark’s Gospel, they will discover new insights and come to a new appreciation of the often-overlooked literary genius that enlivens his inspired words.

Related Activities

• Essay competitions
• University of Cambridge: Faculty of Divinity – RE:view Cambridge Religion on Film
• Newnham Essay Prizes in Philosophy
• University of Sheffield: Secondary School Philosophy Essay

• In house Philosophy and Theology debates
• Invited Speakers
• Anscombe BioEthics Centre, Oxford
• Specialists in Theology & Philosophy