What does it mean to be human? What is the correct thing to do in an ethically ambiguous situation? What is the impact of belief in God on the world? The aim of Philosophy IB is to profoundly study and critically engage with the biggest questions that are at the heart of humanity. You will engage with the ideas of famous thinkers and use their concepts to develop your own philosophical outlook of the world. Philosophy IB has an emphasis on ‘doing philosophy’ and in this sense the course is both intellectually stimulating and profoundly critical; there is an expectation on students to practise philosophy in a tangible way using the skills gathered during the course. The Philosophy IB is an extensive, yet accessible, introduction to the many aspects of Philosophy. The main topics covered are: • Being Human • Ethics • Philosophy of Religion • Set Text The core theme ‘Being Human’ is studied by all Philosophy students. It engages with ideas such as whether humans possess free will, what it means to have a personal identity, and the notion of humanity as rational or irrational beings. The optional topic studied by both Higher and Standard Level is ‘Ethics’. This topic overlaps into the realities of life and asks students to consider whether there is a way to perfect the art of ethical decision-making. Students will have the opportunity to study famous thinkers and then apply these ideas to modern-day relevant situations, such as biomedical ethics and environmental ethics. For students who opt for Higher Level they also get to study ‘Philosophy of Religion’ which considers philosophical arguments for the existence of God. It allows students to engage with ideas such as whether the existence of a higher being can be proved through reasoning and experience or whether religion is nothing more than a social phenomenon. All students have a chance to engage with a set philosophical text and write their own internal assessment which is a great foundation to university life. The set text, Peter Singer’s The Life you can Save, links beautifully with ethics and allows students to consider the feasibility of ending world poverty. Higher Level students are also able to engage with an extension task that asks them to explore what it means to practise and ‘do philosophy’.
Offers of places at 16+ are conditional on applicants achieving our required grades at GCSE, IB MYP or the equivalent foreign examinations. We ask for three 7 grades (or grade A) and above and another three 6 grades (or grade B) and above at GCSE or for IB MYP we require three 6 grades and three 5 grades. These should include English and mathematics and, where applicable, the subjects chosen for IB Higher Level or A-Level. We allocate places on academic merit, considered alongside the potential to contribute to our co-curricular programme. We recommend at least a Grade 6 at I/GCSE in any subject taken at IB Higher Level or A-level; students will not normally be allowed to pursue a subject in which they have attained less than a Grade 5.
For both Standard and Higher Level students: Internal assessment: Students choose a non-philosophical stimulus (such as a song, picture or poem) and critically engage with an area of philosophy that relates to the chosen stimulus. (Standard Level 25% or Higher Level 20%). • Paper 1: Students have one question on the core theme and then either one question (for Standard Level) or two questions (Higher Level) which cover the optional themes. (Standard Level 50% or Higher Level 40%). • Paper 2: Two questions asked on the set text studied in class. (Standard Level 25% or Higher Level 20%). For Higher Level only assessment. • Paper 3: Students are given an unseen text and write an essay that engages both with the text and with their experience of ‘doing philosophy’ (Higher Level 20%).
About Education Provider
| Region | West Midlands |
| Local Authority | Warwickshire |
| Ofsted Rating | |
| Gender Type | Co-Educational |
| ISI Report | View Report |
| Boarding Fee | £45,990 |
| Sixth Form Fee | £45,990 |
| Address | The Bursary, 10 Little Church Street, Rugby, CV21 3AW |
What does it mean to be human? What is the correct thing to do in an ethically ambiguous situation? What is the impact of belief in God on the world? The aim of Philosophy IB is to profoundly study and critically engage with the biggest questions that are at the heart of humanity. You will engage with the ideas of famous thinkers and use their concepts to develop your own philosophical outlook of the world. Philosophy IB has an emphasis on ‘doing philosophy’ and in this sense the course is both intellectually stimulating and profoundly critical; there is an expectation on students to practise philosophy in a tangible way using the skills gathered during the course. The Philosophy IB is an extensive, yet accessible, introduction to the many aspects of Philosophy. The main topics covered are: • Being Human • Ethics • Philosophy of Religion • Set Text The core theme ‘Being Human’ is studied by all Philosophy students. It engages with ideas such as whether humans possess free will, what it means to have a personal identity, and the notion of humanity as rational or irrational beings. The optional topic studied by both Higher and Standard Level is ‘Ethics’. This topic overlaps into the realities of life and asks students to consider whether there is a way to perfect the art of ethical decision-making. Students will have the opportunity to study famous thinkers and then apply these ideas to modern-day relevant situations, such as biomedical ethics and environmental ethics. For students who opt for Higher Level they also get to study ‘Philosophy of Religion’ which considers philosophical arguments for the existence of God. It allows students to engage with ideas such as whether the existence of a higher being can be proved through reasoning and experience or whether religion is nothing more than a social phenomenon. All students have a chance to engage with a set philosophical text and write their own internal assessment which is a great foundation to university life. The set text, Peter Singer’s The Life you can Save, links beautifully with ethics and allows students to consider the feasibility of ending world poverty. Higher Level students are also able to engage with an extension task that asks them to explore what it means to practise and ‘do philosophy’.
Offers of places at 16+ are conditional on applicants achieving our required grades at GCSE, IB MYP or the equivalent foreign examinations. We ask for three 7 grades (or grade A) and above and another three 6 grades (or grade B) and above at GCSE or for IB MYP we require three 6 grades and three 5 grades. These should include English and mathematics and, where applicable, the subjects chosen for IB Higher Level or A-Level. We allocate places on academic merit, considered alongside the potential to contribute to our co-curricular programme. We recommend at least a Grade 6 at I/GCSE in any subject taken at IB Higher Level or A-level; students will not normally be allowed to pursue a subject in which they have attained less than a Grade 5.
For both Standard and Higher Level students: Internal assessment: Students choose a non-philosophical stimulus (such as a song, picture or poem) and critically engage with an area of philosophy that relates to the chosen stimulus. (Standard Level 25% or Higher Level 20%). • Paper 1: Students have one question on the core theme and then either one question (for Standard Level) or two questions (Higher Level) which cover the optional themes. (Standard Level 50% or Higher Level 40%). • Paper 2: Two questions asked on the set text studied in class. (Standard Level 25% or Higher Level 20%). For Higher Level only assessment. • Paper 3: Students are given an unseen text and write an essay that engages both with the text and with their experience of ‘doing philosophy’ (Higher Level 20%).