Epsom CollegeCo-educational 13-18 Boarding and Day School
This film was shot and edited by the Epsom College Film Production Club.
General Enquiries:
T: 01372 821000
E: info@epsomcollege.org.uk
Admissions Enquiries:
T: 01372 821234
E: admissions@epsomcollege.org.uk
Head of Department: Helen Hynd. Email: hhh@epsomcollege.org.uk
"The supreme end of education is expert discernment in all things - the power to tell the good from the bad, the genuine from the counterfeit, and to prefer the good and the genuine to the bad and the counterfeit."
Samuel Johnson
At the heart of the Theology and Philosophy Department is the belief that Religious Education has the potential to be one of the most exciting and intellectually stimulating subjects in any school curriculum. The subject matter is remarkably diverse, covering theological, philosophical, ethical, spiritual, historical and social questions. The aim within the Department is to capture the spirit of the subject and hopefully inspire pupils to think.
Religious Education should be challenging and complex. Pupils are encouraged to look at the world around them and to reflect back on their own beliefs. Pupils arrive at Epsom with firmly established beliefs and perceptions that shape how they deal with one another and how they interpret the world. Our approach is to engage pupils in reflecting on their own belief system so they can engage in genuine moral and spiritual development. Pupils are encouraged to question and to critically analyse their own belief system as well as reflect on wider religious issues. We have succeeded, not when we change a pupil's view, but when a pupil understands the reasons that they hold that view and can appreciate how others will disagree with them.
Religious Education lessons do not promote specific moral attitudes and beliefs of any group or individual. We do, however, engage rationally with the religious, ethical and moral values held in society. Our subject is not value-neutral - indeed two teachers in the department are part of the Chaplaincy team. Rather, topics are addressed in a manner that seeks to engage and inform pupils, with much of the teaching beginning with the views of the pupils and expanding to address how other groups in society would address these ideas.
We divide the work of the Department into Religious Education - taught across the entire year group to M4 and 5th form; and Religious Studies - preparation for GCSE and A level.
Follow the links below to learn more about Theology and Philosophy at Epsom College.
In the M4 year we aimto encourage pupils to reflect critically on the nature of humanity. Through weekly debate we hope that pupils will gain a greater understanding of the significance of religious belief in the world today and to understand the role of religion in people's lives when confronting personal and moral challenges. This course is not just about learning about other people. Our pupils arrive in class with firmly held beliefs. We hope to help them to develop the necessary tools to critically reflect on their own beliefs so that they can start to construct a coherent belief system. They need to have an understanding of the implications of personal responsibility and they need to develop an awareness of their obligation to the wider world. This year also provides a foundation in terms of knowledge and skills for commencing Religious Studies GCSE. We hope that by the end of the course pupils will make a distinction stating beliefs, explaining the reasons for beliefs, applying beliefs and making personal evaluations. |
| Syllabus Details AQA Religious Studies A Unit 2 Christianity: Ethics (405002) Unit 8 Islam (405008)
What value is this GCSE to me? Religious studies GCSE offers: An opportunity to think: Much of your time in school is dedicated to learning facts and figures. We offer you the chance to reflect on what you already know, to gain a greater understanding of the views of others and to try to develop a justification for the views you hold. A skill in writing concisely: At the end of the course you will be tested on how coherently you set out your ideas. We will teach you to structure your ideas and present an argument that builds to a conclusion. It is a skill that complements many other GCSEs. Knowledge that will shape how you understand the world today: Your world is rapidly changing. We want you to spend some time thinking about your own views but also looking at the views of other people. Understand how other communities work and you start to understand how other people think. We follow the AQA Religious Studies course. This means that you will sit two exams at the end of the 5th Year. Each exam lasts 1hour and 30 minutes. One exam will test your knowledge of Islam and the other will explore Christian Perspectives on Personal, Social and World issues. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. We encounter Islam on a daily basis. Through this paper we hope to offer a basic understanding of how this religion works and what it means to be a Muslim both in the UK and in the world today. Some of the topics we cover: Basic beliefs about Allah and the Prophet Muhammad; the Five Pillars; festivals; personal lifestyle - looking at diet and dress; family life - looking at marriage, the status of women and home life. The Christian Perspectives paper is designed to encourage pupils to reflect on their own belief systems whilst also examining the views held by people of other faiths. Some of the topics we cover: The right to life - abortion and euthanasia; the use of medical technology such as fertility treatments, gene therapy, genetic engineering and cloning; global concerns such as the environment and world poverty; personal responsibility looking at sexual relationships and the use of drugs; conflict - looking at war and peace, crime and punishment. Religious Studies GCSE is available to all as part of the Humanities options in the U4th and 5th Forms. |
Syllabus Details OCR Religious Studies H172 (AS) & H572 (A2) Philosophy of Religion G571 (AS) & G581 (A2) Religious Ethics G572 (AS) & G582 (A2) Religious Studies A level is available in the 6th Form whether or not pupils have taken Religious Studies GCSE. This A level can be taken as a standalone AS in either the L6th or U6th, or to A2 in the U6th following L6th AS study.
Why you should study this subject:
The subject is largely essay-based so you will need the ability to express your ideas coherently upon the page, but any GCSE Humanities subject will have prepared you for this. If you are still not sure if you would like the course, read The Philosophy Files by Stephen Law or have a brief look at The Story of Philosophy by Bryan Magee. If either interest you, then this is the subject for you,
Subject Combinations This course is good with most other subjects. Clarity of thought and coherence upon the page is our main aim and would complement the ambitions of most other courses:
Topics covered at AS include: Philosophy of Religion
Religious Ethics
Topics covered at A2 include: Philosophy of Religion
Religious Ethics
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Taking Religious Studies at GCSE or A level is not about preparing to be a vicar. Universities recognise that this is an academically stretching A level to take. The ability to think clearly and express your ideas upon the page coherently is valued by many:
An AS or A2 in Religious Studies is well regarded by all Universities and Colleges. |
Head of Department Helen H. Hynd B.A, M.A, FRSA
Department Teaching Staff Father Paul Thompson B.A. (Oxon), Certificate of Theology, Senior Chaplain. Ben MacDowel M.Theol. |
