Ethics

Head of Department: Mr M Pitcher

All students in Years 9 & 10 take a core course in Ethics. They will receive a school certified qualification at the end of Year 10.  At Key Stage 4 Ethics aims to:

• Encourage students to examine the bigger moral questions surrounding a number of ethical issues.
• Contribute to the development of students' knowledge of the wider world and current topics.
• Link the investigation of these issues to religious belief and ideals.

Year 9

Topics covered include:

• The Religious vision of the Native American people
• Jewish response to the Holocaust – including a visit from a Holocaust survivor.  In the past we have regularly run an overseas trip in the Spring term of Year 10, to Krakow, Poland, which included an opportunity to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau.
• An introduction to Ethical issues

Year 10

Topics covered include:

• Religion and Medical Ethics (abortion, euthanasia, fertility treatments, saviour siblings, medical trials)
• Religion and Equality (Racism and discrimination, Martin-Luther King, Homosexuality)
• Religion, Peace and Justice (Just War theory, nuclear warfare, crime and punishment)
• Religion and Responsibility (family, marriage, divorce, age of consent, sexuality)