A LEVEL
Philosophy & Ethics
Philosophy & Ethics invites you to ask life’s biggest questions about truth, purpose, belief, and what it means to live a good life.
Rooted in a Christian understanding of the world, this subject encourages open-minded exploration of faith, morality, and reason. You’ll wrestle with complex ideas, debate what’s right and wrong, and discover how philosophy and ethics continue to shape human thought today.
You arrive as you are, and you’re celebrated for it. You leave ready to take on the world.
— Sixth Form student
Why Choose Philosophy & Ethics at St Paul’s?
- Explore life’s biggest questions. From the existence of God to the foundations of morality, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of belief and reason.
- Think critically and compassionately. Learn to analyse complex arguments while listening and responding with empathy and respect.
- Rooted in faith, open to all. Grounded in Christian thought but welcoming every viewpoint, this course values dialogue and diversity.
- Supportive teaching, lively debate. Our passionate RE specialists help you build confidence in thinking, speaking and writing.
- A subject that shapes who you are. Philosophy & Ethics develops the intellectual, moral and spiritual curiosity that stays with you long after the exam.
Where Philosophy & Ethics Can Take You
Studying Philosophy & Ethics opens doors to many degrees and careers, including:
- Philosophy, Theology, and Religious Studies
- Law and Politics
- Education, Counselling, and Psychology
- Journalism, Media, and International Relations
- Charity and Social Justice Work
Whatever your path, you’ll leave with the ability to reason deeply, argue respectfully, and see the world from many perspectives.
I thought about leaving, but I realised no one else would care about me the way St Paul’s does. Here, I’m not starting over, I’m moving forward.
— Student Name
What You’ll Study
Philosophy of Religion
Explore ancient and modern ideas about existence, the soul, and belief in God.
- Ancient philosophical influences
- The nature of soul, mind and body
- Arguments for and against the existence of God
- Religious experience
- The problem of evil
- The nature of God
- Religious language
Religion and Ethics
Examine moral philosophy and how ethical principles apply to modern life.
- Natural Law, Kant, Situation Ethics and Utilitarianism
- Applying ethical theory to business and euthanasia
- Conscience, moral reasoning, and ethical language
- Sexual ethics and religious influence on moral thought
Developments in Christian Thought
Study key themes in Christian theology and moral teaching.
- Augustine’s teaching on human nature
- Death and the afterlife
- The person of Jesus Christ
- Christian moral principles and action
- Religious pluralism and secularism
- Liberation Theology and Marx
Full details of the course can be found in the exam board’s official OCR specification.
You arrive as you are, and you’re celebrated for it. You leave ready to take on the world.
— Sixth Form student
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Philosophy & Ethics Exam Results
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PASS RATE
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achieved
A* to C
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achieved
A* to B
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achieved
A* to A
Entry Requirements
In addition to our standard entry requirements, a number of our courses have specific entry requirements to ensure you are ready to thrive in the subject. For Mathematics, you’ll need:
- Grade 5+ in English Language
These requirements are in place to help set you up for success and make sure you have the right foundation to enjoy the challenge of Sixth Form study.
I thought about leaving, but I realised no one else would care about me the way St Paul’s does. Here, I’m not starting over, I’m moving forward.
— Student Name
Hear From Our Students
I love Philosophy and Ethics because it’s fascinating and allows me to explore why we are here and who God is.
Philosophy and Ethics gives me a new outlook on the world.
Philosophy allows me to explore questions to do with this life and beyond.
I’ve chosen to study Philosophy at University because I’ve really enjoyed developing my arguing skills through all the topic we’ve covered.
Mrs A Hawkes
SUBJECT LEADER FOR RE
Thank you for taking an interest in A Level Philosophy & Ethics. It’s a fascinating and thought-provoking subject that encourages you to question, reason, and reflect on some of life’s biggest ideas.
Our department is passionate about helping every student grow in confidence and curiosity. If you’d like to find out more or have any questions about the course, I’d be delighted to hear from you.
Send me a message
We’d love to hear from you, whether you want to talk about subject choices, entry requirements, or your future career ideas.
Are you ready to think deeply, question courageously, and explore how faith and reason shape the world?
Start your Philosophy & Ethics journey at St Paul’s.
Whatever course you choose, you’ll be joining a community where every student is known and loved. Our mission is not just to help you succeed academically, but to help you grow as a person, supported and celebrated every step of the way.
Philosophy & EthicsCourse Content
See how Philosophy & Ethics is broken down and the topics you will explore and how this subject is assessed.
| PAPER 1Philosophy of religion | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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WEIGHT |
33% (120 Marks) |
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LENGTH |
2 Hours |
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Paper 1 is divided into seven sections:
- Ancient Philosophical Influences
- The nature of soul, mind, and body
- The arguments about the existence or non-existence of god
- The nature and impact of religious experience
- The challenge for religious belief of the problem
of evil - Ideas about the nature of God
- Issues in religious language
| PAPER 2Religion and Ethics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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|
WEIGHT |
33% (120 Marks) |
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LENGTH |
2 Hours |
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Paper 2 is divided into five sections:
- Natural Law, Kant, Situation ethics and Utilitarianism
- The application of ethical theory to Business Ethics and Euthanasia
- Ethical language and thought
- Debates surrounding the significant idea of
conscience - Sexual ethics and the influence on ethical thought
of developments in religious beliefs
| PAPER 3Developments in Christian Thought | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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WEIGHT |
33% (120 Marks) |
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LENGTH |
2 Hours |
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Paper 3 is divided into five sections:
- Augustine’s teaching on human nature
- Death and the afterlife
- Knowledge of God’s existence
- The person of Jesus Christ
- Christian Moral Principles
- Christian moral action
- Religious pluralism
- The challenge of Secularism
- Liberation Theology and Marx.
