KS4

Key Stage Four Curriculum Overview

Year 10 Arguments for the existence of God. Religious Experience. Practical Ethics.

	Name of Topic	Key Content of the Topic	Assessment Points
HT1	Unit 1) Arguments for the existence of God	An introduction to AS Religious Studies An introduction to ‘The Design Argument’ David Hume’s 5 key criticisms	End of sub unit assessment: A01 essay
HT2	Unit 2) The Ontological argument	The attributes of God The Ontological argument Gaunilo’s Island and Anselm’s response Kant’s criticisms	End of sub unit assessment: A02 essay
HT3	Unit 3) The Cosmological argument	The Kalam argument Aquinas’ Cosmological argument Hume and Russell	End of unit assessment: A01 essay
HT4	Unit 4) Religious experience	An introduction to religious experience Visions, numinosious and mystical experiences Scientific responses to religious experience	End of unit assessment: A02 essay
HT5-6	Unit 5) Practical ethics	An introduction to practical ethics: Issues of human life and death Issues of non-human life and death	Trial Exam

Year 11 Ethical Theory

	Name of topic	Key Content of the Topic	Assessment points
HT1	Unit 1) Natural Moral Law	An Introduction to ‘Natural Moral Law’ (NML) theory Primary and secondary precepts Double effect and the principle of proportionality Criticisms of NML theory	End of unit assessment: A01 essay
HT2	Unit 2) Situation Ethics	An introduction to ‘Situation Ethics’ The significance of ‘agape’ in Fletcher’s philosophy Criticisms of situation ethics	End of unit assessment: A02 essay
HT3	Unit 3) Virtue ethics	An introduction to Virtue ethics Eudaimonia The Golden mean Criticisms of virtue ethics	End of unit assessment: A01 essay
HT4	Unit 4) The study of Christianity (Part one)	Sources of Wisdom and authority The nature of Good (Y9 enrichment) Self, death and the afterlife (Y9 enrichment)	End of sub-unit assessment: A02 essay
HT5	Unit 4) The study of Christianity (Part two)	Good conduct and key moral principles Expressions of religious identity Exam practice	End of unit assessment: A01 essay
HT6	N/A		GCSE

What are the details of the course which we follow in P&E in Y10 & Y11 at AGSB?

At AGSB all students will study the AQA AS level Religious Studies course. This course focusses on selected topics in the philosophy of religion, ethics and religion and the study of a major world religion. The world religion we have chosen is Christianity. A download of the AS specification and specimen examination questions can be found in the P&E Department’s pages on Office 365 via the school’s website or alternatively you may wish to consult the specification details on the AQA website.

Why are we offering AS level rather than GCSE?

We believe it is a better course than the current GCSE.
Advantages:

Good specification: subject content in keeping with our departmental ethos
An impressive qualification when achieved by students in Y11
Stretches the top students – however, content made accessible to all students
Promotes literacy skills
Gives students more confidence in arts and humanities subjects
Promotes independent learning
Students develop critical and evaluative skills which are transferable to both higher education and the workplace

How will the course be examined?
Students are given the choice about whether they would like to be entered for the AS level qualification. This is an opportunity for our most able students to challenge themselves to achieve an AS level, if they feel they are coping well with the demands of the GCSE courses.

Why is the final examination optional?
We don’t want to overburden pupils when faced with the pressure to maximise their GCSE grades. In addition, we do not feel it would be right to insist that a pupil should take an external examination in Religious Studies given the lesson time allocated to the teaching of the subject compared with the option subjects.

When do students make their choice about whether they are going to sit a final examination?
In January of Year 11 all students will receive an options letter, in which they must confirm whether they wish to be entered for the final examination. By then they will have experienced a year’s foundation in Y9, a whole year’s teaching in Y10 and a practice exam experience (at Christmas in Y11) and pupils will be able to make a decision that is right for them.

What happens to students who choose not to sit the final examination?
They will continue to attend lessons and do class work, but they will not be required to complete additional assignments outside of lesson time. Students will still benefit from the challenging and stimulating learning environment but without the additional demands of undertaking a formal examination in the subject.

Will the AS level count towards entry qualification for the sixth form?
Yes

*Last Supper' by Joseph Mulamba-Mandangi*

*Buddha Shakyamuni, 12th century, central Tibet*

Recommended Textbook for Philosophy and Ethics (KS3 & KS4)

Resources are organised by year group:

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

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.