Head of RS, Ethics & Philosophy – Mrs Joanna Hawkins
Email – hawkinsj@hanson.org.uk
Course Introduction:
Studying A level Philosophy, Religion and Ethics challenges students to think about deep and controversial issues and write about them from a critical angle. Students are encouraged to develop open minds, that can assess complicated concepts from a multitude of angles and build their confidence to articulate these views verbally. It builds a broad understanding of religious, non- religious and sometimes competing world views, as well as equipping students to have a compassionate yet pragmatic approach to ethical issues. The course will also support the development of high level analytical and evaluative skills as well as helping students express themselves fluently and clearly in essays.
Careers and skills
This course has numerous career paths including teaching, academia, research, social work, civil service, Politics, Ministry, Journalism and medicine. Philosophy, Religion and Ethics is a rigorous academic pursuit that complements many other subjects and develops a range of transferable skills.
It might seem that PRE is an odd subject for students who want to pursue a career in medicine. But actually, PRE is a very useful subject for prospective doctors to study. This is because doctors and medical students find themselves encountering ethical dilemmas all the time – should euthanasia always be a crime? Is abortion a form of murder? Should criminals be given the same treatment as other people? Good doctors need to be able to rationally justify their ethical judgements as much as they need to be able to accurately diagnose and treat their patients. PRE gives students the opportunity to explore and debate different ethical perspectives in order to develop their own views about issues of right and wrong.
We study the views of different philosophers who put different ideas about what is right and wrong and evaluate their reasoning and we apply this to issues like euthanasia. Medical students with PRE A Level are mature, reflective, critical thinkers who are capable of thinking deeply about the ethical issues at the heart of medicine. They also have excellent written and oral communication, which allows them to write strong personal statements and excel at interview.
Assessment: Exam Board WJEC/ Eduqas
A level Philosophy, Religion and Ethics is a linear qualification, which means exams take place at the end of the two-year course.
The exams consist of 3 x 2hour papers:
Paper 1 – Philosophy
Paper 2 – Islamic theology
Paper 3 – Religion and Ethics
Click the link to the specification: AS and A Level Religious Studies | Eduqas