Why study RPE?

A Level RPE provides students with a broad introduction to the study of religious, philosophical and ethical concepts.

This course is designed to:

• develop a range of transferable skills which can be applied far beyond the study of RPE

• enable students to develop the ability to reason, form their own judgements, express themselves coherently and contribute to the process of debate

• develop an understanding and appreciation of religious thought and its contribution to individuals, communities and societies

“There are some advanced level subjects which provide suitable preparation for entry to university generally…Examples of such subjects include…Religious Studies.” The Russell Group Informed Choices 2015/2016

What does the course involve?

You will study three main areas of the course:

• Philosophy: Can we prove God exists? Is religion a product of the mind? Does the modern world need religion? Is there a problem with the language we use when talking about philosophical issues?
• Ethics: What do we mean when we say ‘good’ and ‘bad’? Are we completely free to act as we choose? Should we agree with: abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment and nuclear weapons?
• Christianity: How reliable are religious texts? Is God male or female? Can we still believe in religion with the challenges from science? Does celebrating Easter and Christmas make us religious?

How will I be assessed?

RPE is assessed by three two-hour examination papers (one on each of the above areas) at the end of the A Level.

Leading to a career in?

Many of our students go onto university to study Philosophy and/or Religious Studies, often in combination with other disciplines. Popular combinations include: Philosophy/History; Philosophy/English; Philosophy/Law; Philosophy/Maths and even Philosophy/Biology. RPE is a valued qualification in such careers as: politics, research, journalism, law, charities, social services, education, civil service, publishing, marketing and advertising.