Theology, Philosophy and Ethics

The primary aim of the department is to stimulate the theological and philosophical curiosity, interest and literacy of our pupils. We encourage them to engage with the issues regardless of their own faith position.

Our aim is to nurture pupils’ interest in the issues of theology, philosophy and ethics (TPE), and to help them gain the skills and understanding to participate meaningfully in ongoing intellectual debate.

What is the nature of reality? Can I survive the death of my body? Is there a God? What is it to live a good life? These are some of the fundamental questions which have been asked for millennia, and now it is our turn to reflect upon them. We want pupils to be able to work out their own responses. We do this by bringing the questions alive in the classroom and addressing them in an academically rigorous manner. Pupils learn what key philosophers and theologians have argued, and then establish where they stand in relation to the great minds that have shaped the subject.

A personal faith is not required to flourish in the TPE classroom – intellectual curiosity and an openness to ideas are far more important as we question assumptions, highlight misinterpretations, and uncover fallacious reasoning in our pursuit of knowledge (and perhaps even wisdom).

We teach a foundation TPE course in the Shells which considers what it means to be human in comparison to animals and machines, the ethics of war and the relationship between religion and science. Pupils may choose to study Theology, Philosophy and Ethics (RS) GCSE in the Fourth and Fifth Form. In the Sixth Form, A Level Theology, Philosophy and Ethics (RS) and IB Philosophy are offered.

Head of Department: Charles Wallendahl