Theology and Philosophy

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At the heart of the study of Theology and Philosophy at Francis Holland is the belief of philosophers such as Socrates that the supreme goal of education is to inculcate a critical engagement with all aspects of human life. His famous dictum below is one of the Theology and Philosophy department’s many mantras.

‘The unexamined life is not worth living’ Plato’s Apology (385-6 BC)

As a result the Theology and Philosophy department is committed to fostering a spirit of inquiry in which students are encouraged to reflect on the fundamental questions of human existence.

In Theology and Philosophy lessons, our students participate in debate and discussion using a number of methods and media. All of our students are encouraged to think outside of the box, and to have the confidence to bring fresh insights from their own engagement with life into the classroom context. While the great teachings and writings of theologians and philosophers are the focus of much of our study, we also enjoy exploring all aspects of popular culture, and we are as happy to talk about the words of the Buddha as we are the latest moral dilemma of a character from popular culture.

Key Stage 3

In Years 7 to 9, pupils study a range of subjects. In Year 7, there is an introductory unit to ‘Religion, Ethics and Philosophy’ which is then followed by courses of study looking at Christianity and Judaism. There is a strong emphasis on student participation, reflection and good citizenship. In Year 8 pupils study aspects of Asian Religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Sikhism. In Year 9, pupils explore some areas of the philosophy of religion and ethics including looking at arguments for the existence of God and how to respond in certain ethical dilemmas.

GCSE

The Religious Studies AQA Full Course is offered as an optional GCSE. It has a twin focus on the beliefs, teachings and practices of two religions: Christianity and Buddhism. In addition, the GCSE examines the following four ‘themes’: Relationships and families; Religion and life; Religion, peace and conflict; and Religion, human rights and social justice. The majority of students invariably attain a Level 8/9 in this subject.

A Level

Theology and Philosophy in the Sixth Form is a very popular subject and is studied in combination with a whole range of other subjects. It is academically rigorous, and students examine some of the ideas of the greatest minds to have ever lived. There is a great deal of space for debate and discussion, but also an explicit demand that students are willing to write essays of a sophisticated nature which reveal the ability to evaluate critically the views of others. Presently, we follow the Eduqas WJEC specification, with a clear focus on the Philosophy of Religion, Christianity and Religious Ethics. A number of students have further pursued their nascent love of this subject by reading it at university in a number of different faculties.

The Theology and Philosophy department encourages all of our pupils to explore many aspects of the subject beyond the classroom. The department has organised a number of trips to lectures, particularly for the Sixth Form to offer ‘stretch and challenge’, and plays which have sought to explore philosophical and religious areas of life. A number of our pupils have also been involved periodically in the running of a Philosophy Society at which invited philosophers and academics have sought to stimulate debate and discussion. Such events provoke a great deal of debate and discussion and have proved popular.  The department periodically runs a Year 7 trip to a cathedral to compliment the study of Christianity and a Year 8 Trip to Bhaktivedanta Manor as part of the Hinduism unit. Year 9 are involved in a fun philosophical afternoon at FHS with visiting speakers from the Philosophical Foundation.  Year 11 take part in an afternoon of ‘conversation’ with a practicing Buddhist to compliment their learning at GCSE.

The department is run by Mrs P Crawley MA (Oxon) and MA (SOAS). She is supported by: Mr R Cawley MA (Lancaster); Miss T Hunt BA (Exeter); and Miss I Wigdahl BA (Durham). All members of the Theology and Philosophy Department are committed to inspiring their students to delight in the study of all aspects of theological, ethical and philosophical studies.

The department is extremely well equipped and has a significant range of written material to draw upon. We have a dedicated classroom which is decorated with religious art, and we have a substantial collection of artefacts. The department includes a focus on Information Technology with the occasional use of ‘surfaces’ in the classroom. We are exploring the use of websites, blogs, presentations, ‘blookets’ and quizzes as well as  podcasting as resources of learning for an increasingly technologically literate generation of young people.

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