KS3

Key Stage Three Curriculum Overview

Year 7 An Introduction to Philosophy of Religion

	Name of Topic	Key Content of the Topic	Assessment Points
HT1	Unit 1) What are the origins of the world?	Ideas about the origin of the universe: scientific, philosophical and religious approaches The significance of myth in religion and folk-culture	End of unit assessment: ‘Genesis 1’
HT2	Unit 1) What are the origins of the world?		End of unit assessment: ‘Genesis 1’
HT3	Unit 2) Do we need to prove God's existence	An introduction to religious literacy: What it means to be an atheist, theist and agnostic Classical arguments for the existence of God: The Design argument The Cosmological argument	End of unit assessment: ‘Where is God?’
HT4	Unit 3) What is real?	Exploring the difference between knowledge, doubt and certainty in the philosophy of Descartes A philosophical study of the meaning and significance of ‘Plato’s cave’	End of unit assessment: ‘Plato’s cave’
HT5	Unit 3) What is real?		End of unit assessment: ‘Plato’s cave’
HT6	Unit 4) Is there life after death?	Exploring questions of life after death in Christian, Buddhist and Hindu teachings	End of unit assessment: "Dharmic beliefs about life after death?"

Year 8 - An introduction to Ethical Philosophy

	Name of Topic	Key Content of the Topic	Assessment Points
HT1	Unit 1) What importance does ethics play in our lives?	An introduction to ethical theory Deontological and Consequentialist ethical theory The Philosophy of Kant, Bentham and Mill	End of unit assessment: ‘The case of the conjoined twins’
HT2	Unit 2) Does religion help people to be ethical?	Exploring the relationship between faith and ethical decision making Codes for living in Islam, Sikhism and Humanism Buddhism and the Eightfold Path Selfless service and Langar in the Sikh faith	End of unit assessment: ‘Why is Langar important for Sikhs today?’
HT3	Unit 3) What was so radical about Jesus?	Christology: who did Jesus claim to be? Messianic prophecies and challenges to authority Jesus and social justice: women and the marginalised The concept of agape (selfless love) Pacifism and non-violence The legacy of Jesus in the Church today	End of unit assessment: ‘Can violence ever be justified?’
HT4	Unit 3) What was so radical about Jesus?		End of unit assessment: ‘Can violence ever be justified?’
HT5	Unit 4) Coventry Cathedral and the power of reconciliation	History of Coventry Cathedral and its destruction in WWII The Christian response: forgiveness and reconciliation The Litany of Reconciliation and its global influence Art and architecture as symbols of peace Reconciliation in action: Responses to the 2024 riots	End of unit assessment: ‘Symbols of peace and reconciliation’
HT 6	Unit 5) What is our responsibility for animals and the natural world?	Practical ethics case study (focus animal testing) Christian, Hindu and Muslim beliefs about animals and the environment Stewardship and Dominion Religious beliefs about eating meat Intensive farming	End of unit assessment: ‘Should humanity stop eating meat?’

Year 9 An Introduction to KS4: Philosophy and Ethics

	Name of Topic	Key Content of the Topic	Table Heading
HT1	Unit 1) The nature of God	The language of God – 99 names of Allah Philosophical terms for describing God and the problems they raise e.g. the paradox of the stone Is the concept of God beyond human understanding? Philosophy focus: Descartes and Dostoevsky The concepts of Immanence and Transcendence The Trinity Miracles	End of unit assessment: ‘Explain Christian beliefs about the nature of God’ AO1 (15 marks)
HT2	Unit 1) The nature of God
HT3	Unit 2) End of life	The concept of the soul in world religion Muslim and Sikh beliefs about life after death The resurrection Heaven, hell and purgatory The parable of the sheep and the goats The relationship between moral behaviour and divine judgement	End of unit assessment: ‘There is no such thing as life after death’. AO2 (15 marks)
HT4	Unit 2) End of life
HT5	Unit 3) Good and evil	Natural and moral evil The logical and evidential problems of evil Theodicies: 1) The story of Job 2) The Devil 3) The soul making theodicy Alternative explanations for the problem of evil: 1) The free-will defence 2) Process theology	End of unit assessment: ‘Without God anything is allowable’ AO2 (15 marks)
HT6	Unit 3) Good and evil

Teaching and Learning resources

Students and parents can access the lesson materials used in Philosophy and Ethics via the Philosophy and Ethics STU (Student Shared Area). This is particularly useful for pupils who have missed lessons due to illness or for parents who would like to support their child’s learning at home.

Resources are organised by year group:

Recommended Textbook for Philosophy and Ethics (KS3 & KS4)

The Collins Philosophy and Ethics Student Book by Robert Orme introduces a wide range of philosophical and religious ideas in an accessible format. It includes topics such as the nature of reality, arguments for and against the existence of God and questions about the self, knowledge, and belief - many of which are explored in our Key Stage 3 programme of study.

Although this textbook is not required, students and families may find it a helpful resource for reviewing lesson content or deepening understanding. It also provides an excellent foundation for the AGSB School Certificate in Philosophy, studied by all pupils in Years 10 and 11.

View the book on Amazon (external link): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philosophy-Ethics-KS3-Knowing-Religion/dp/0008355029

Recommended online Resources:

These websites, podcasts and video channels are recommended for students who wish to deepen their understanding of key philosophical, ethical and religious ideas explored in the curriculum.

Podcasts:

In Our Time – Philosophy (BBC)
Expert-led discussions on key philosophical ideas and thinkers.
The Panpsycast Philosophy Podcast
Student-friendly episodes exploring major philosophical questions
Philosophy Bites
Short interviews with philosophers on classic and contemporary topics.
History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps
A global and chronological journey through philosophical thought.

YouTube Channels:

Closer to Truth – Big questions in science, philosophy, and religion
Philosophy Vibe – Accessible, discussion-based philosophy topics
Crash Course: Philosophy – Animated introductions to major concepts and thinkers
TED Talks – Philosophy – Short expert talks on philosophical themes
The Bible Project – Visual explorations of Biblical texts and themes

Websites:

BBC Bitesize – Religious Studies (KS3 & KS4) – Curriculum-linked revision and topic summaries
RE:Online – Subject Knowledge – Detailed overviews of world religions
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy – Authoritative articles on philosophical topics
Oxplore (University of Oxford) – Big questions for curious minds aged 11–18
Philosophy Now Magazine – Articles and interviews from contemporary philosophers

What can parents do to support their sons?

To support your son’s progress, please encourage him to keep an open mind and to come to the lessons ready to discuss ideas and issues that he may find challenging. Whatever views your son may have, the primary focus in Philosophy and Ethics is to always respect the beliefs of others.
To support your son in his studies outside the classroom, it would be beneficial to purchase ‘Philosophy and Ethics for Key stage 3’, Collins (ISBN 978000 8355029). This textbook provides a concise overview of many of the ‘big questions’ that will be explored at KS3.