Page 40 - Seaford GCSE Options 2025

GCSE Philosophy, Ethics and
Religion*
Unlike the Religious Instruction experienced by previous generations, students
of Philosophy, Religion and Ethics (PRE) are taught how to think, not what to
think. Considering their own positionalities, as well as the beliefs and traditions
of Christians and Muslims, students are invited to explore and critique a range
of global themes. With approximately 50% of the world’s population practising
either Christianity or Islam, religion indisputably has considerable influence over
our daily lives, impacting upon global politics as well as localised issues of justice
and community. Hence, in PRE, students are given licence to maturely discuss
hard-hitting topics that may feel taboo and thereby discover how it is possible to
successfully work with and alongside others, particularly those who hold views
that are radically different from their own. Cultivating compassionate, tolerant and
culturally informed global citizens is central to our pedagogic mission.
This course consists
of two components:
1. Religious Studies (50%
of the course; 1 hour
45-minutes written
examinations).
• Christian Beliefs and
Teachings
• Christian Practices
• Islamic Beliefs and
Teaching
• Islamic Practices
2. Thematic Studies (50%
of the course; 1 hour
45-minutes written
examinations).
Religion, Human Rights
and Social Justice:
•
Universal Declaration of
Human Rights; Racism;
Sexism; Homophobia;
Ageism; Ableism; Fair
Trade; Poverty and
Wealth; and Christian
and Muslim responses
to these topics.
Religion and Life:
•
Creationism; The Big
Bang Theory; Evolution;
•
The Sanctity of Life;
Abortion; Assisted
Dying; Animal Rights;
Environmental
Stewardship; and
Christian and Muslim
responses to these
topics.
Religion, Peace and
Conflict:
Reasons for War; Just
War Theory; Lesser
and Greater Jihad;
Weapons of Mass
Destruction; Pacifism;
Peaceful and Violent
Protests; Terrorism;
Peace-making and
Reconciliation; and
Christian and Muslim
responses to these
topics.
Religion, Crime and
Punishment:
•
Reasons for Crime;
The Purposes
of Punishment;
The Purposes
of Punishment;
Capital and Corporal
Punishment;
The Principle of
Utility; Freewill and
Determinism; the
Problem of Evil; and
Christian and Muslim
responses to these
topics.
Examination Board:
AQA
Head of Department:
Mr A Stark
*you will gain a
qualification in GCSE
Religious Studies
“I didn’t study PRE in Year 9 and I wasn’t sure, but
now taking it for GCSE it is my favourite subject. It’s
just really interesting.”
Sam Walker
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