The department consists of two qualified, highly committed and enthusiastic teachers: Simon Barratt and Ian Kennedy. About 150 students are studying A Level. The A Level course at Greenhead covers three main areas of study: Philosophy of Religion; Ethics; and Buddhism. Many of our students go on to study philosophy-related courses at top universities including Oxford and Cambridge. Do you enjoy thinking about life’s big questions? For instance: • Ethics. What is the nature of good? And what does it mean to live a good life? How do we decide what is right on issues such as euthanasia in medical ethics, human rights, sexual ethics e.g. what is the purpose of sex? • Metaphysics. What is the nature of reality? Does God exist? If there is a God, why does he allow so much evil and suffering? Do humans have free will? Is the mind independent from the body? Is there life after death? • Epistemology. What is knowledge, and what distinguishes it from mere belief or opinion? eg. how do we know that our ideas about what is morally good are true? What is truth? • Language. How is it that language expresses meaning? How it is that language comes to refer to the world? Is it possible to use language to talk about God? • Politics and Law. How should society be organised? What is justice? What are ‘rights’?’ etc. • Science. What is science, and how does it challenge religious belief? If you have an enquiring mind enjoy philosophical debate and are interested in what some of the world’s greatest thinkers, scientists and religions have to say, then this is the right subject for you! The course includes educational visits to Philosophy and ethics conferences, places of Buddhist interest as well as a residential trip to London. In the last two years, popular speakers in the field of Philosophy, such as Dr Peter Vardy and Dr Stephen Law have visited the College and given revision conferences for us.
Minimum entry requirement is grade 6 in three GCSE subjects. All students must have achieved a minimum grade 4 in both GCSE English Language and GCSE Mathematics. You will need to achieve Grade 5 in any of the following subjects: English Literature, English Language, History or Religious Studies.
The A Level course is linear and covers three main areas of study over two years – Philosophy of Religion, Ethics and Buddhism, as shown below: Content Overview to be assessed at the end of the second year by examination only – no coursework. 1. Philosophy of religion: • Plato, Aristotle and early philosophical thought on the nature of soul and existence Arguments for the existence or non-existence of God, including challenges from science; • The nature and influence of religious experience and ideas about the nature of God • Challenges to religious belief such as the problem of evil and suffering; • Language and how it is applied to God and religion 2. Ethics: • The meaning of ethical language; • The study of ethical theories e.g. natural law, Kant’s deontological ethics, utilitarianism, situation ethics, Aristotle’s virtue ethics etc; • The application of these theories to the study of practical ethical issues in particular to medical ethics, human rights, sexual ethics, and business ethics 3. Buddhism: • The Life of the Buddha and influences on his teaching and practice. • Philosophical beliefs, values and teachings; including the meaning and purpose of life, ethics, the nature of reality, self, life after death, nirvana and meditation. • Sources of wisdom and authority – texts and how they are used; key teachers and their teachings; • Practices that shape and express religious identity’ including the diversity of practice within a tradition
About Education Provider
| Region | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| Local Authority | Kirklees |
| Ofsted Rating | Outstanding |
| Gender Type | Co-Educational |
| Address | Greenhead Road, Huddersfield, HD1 4ES |
The department consists of two qualified, highly committed and enthusiastic teachers: Simon Barratt and Ian Kennedy. About 150 students are studying A Level. The A Level course at Greenhead covers three main areas of study: Philosophy of Religion; Ethics; and Buddhism. Many of our students go on to study philosophy-related courses at top universities including Oxford and Cambridge. Do you enjoy thinking about life’s big questions? For instance: • Ethics. What is the nature of good? And what does it mean to live a good life? How do we decide what is right on issues such as euthanasia in medical ethics, human rights, sexual ethics e.g. what is the purpose of sex? • Metaphysics. What is the nature of reality? Does God exist? If there is a God, why does he allow so much evil and suffering? Do humans have free will? Is the mind independent from the body? Is there life after death? • Epistemology. What is knowledge, and what distinguishes it from mere belief or opinion? eg. how do we know that our ideas about what is morally good are true? What is truth? • Language. How is it that language expresses meaning? How it is that language comes to refer to the world? Is it possible to use language to talk about God? • Politics and Law. How should society be organised? What is justice? What are ‘rights’?’ etc. • Science. What is science, and how does it challenge religious belief? If you have an enquiring mind enjoy philosophical debate and are interested in what some of the world’s greatest thinkers, scientists and religions have to say, then this is the right subject for you! The course includes educational visits to Philosophy and ethics conferences, places of Buddhist interest as well as a residential trip to London. In the last two years, popular speakers in the field of Philosophy, such as Dr Peter Vardy and Dr Stephen Law have visited the College and given revision conferences for us.
Minimum entry requirement is grade 6 in three GCSE subjects. All students must have achieved a minimum grade 4 in both GCSE English Language and GCSE Mathematics. You will need to achieve Grade 5 in any of the following subjects: English Literature, English Language, History or Religious Studies.
The A Level course is linear and covers three main areas of study over two years – Philosophy of Religion, Ethics and Buddhism, as shown below: Content Overview to be assessed at the end of the second year by examination only – no coursework. 1. Philosophy of religion: • Plato, Aristotle and early philosophical thought on the nature of soul and existence Arguments for the existence or non-existence of God, including challenges from science; • The nature and influence of religious experience and ideas about the nature of God • Challenges to religious belief such as the problem of evil and suffering; • Language and how it is applied to God and religion 2. Ethics: • The meaning of ethical language; • The study of ethical theories e.g. natural law, Kant’s deontological ethics, utilitarianism, situation ethics, Aristotle’s virtue ethics etc; • The application of these theories to the study of practical ethical issues in particular to medical ethics, human rights, sexual ethics, and business ethics 3. Buddhism: • The Life of the Buddha and influences on his teaching and practice. • Philosophical beliefs, values and teachings; including the meaning and purpose of life, ethics, the nature of reality, self, life after death, nirvana and meditation. • Sources of wisdom and authority – texts and how they are used; key teachers and their teachings; • Practices that shape and express religious identity’ including the diversity of practice within a tradition