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Students of Religion, Philosophy & Ethics (RPE) at Channing have engaged with some of life’s biggest questions in dynamic and creative ways throughout the year.
In Year 7, pupils began their studies by exploring Britain’s major world religions alongside weekly Philosophy lessons. They delved into key philosophical ideas and the principles of respectful debate and inquiry. As part of their work on Buddhism, students took part in a class presentation project, A Day in the Life of a Buddhist Monk, which offered an imaginative and reflective way to engage with the faith’s daily practices and values.
Year 8 students deepened their understanding of religious diversity by completing an independent research task exploring different Christian denominations. Their findings were presented through thoughtful and well-crafted posters — a task that proved both informative and hugely popular.
In Year 9, students turned their attention to ethical questions around crime and punishment, examining a range of religious responses to contemporary justice issues. These lessons culminated in passionate, well-argued debates on capital punishment — demonstrating students’ growing confidence in tackling contentious moral dilemmas with nuance and empathy.
Across Years 7 and 8, all pupils participated in the national Spirited Arts competition organised by NATRE. This creative project invited students to respond to one of several thematic prompts exploring religion, philosophy and spirituality through any artistic medium. Channing students truly impressed with their creativity — submitting everything from paintings and poetry to decorated cakes. Narrowing the field to ten entries for national submission was no easy task.
At A level, our Philosophy students have taken their academic curiosity even further. In the spring, Year 12 students completed an independent reading project, reviewing key philosophical texts and recommending new titles to be added to the Channing library — creating a growing Philosophy canon for future students. They also entered the THINK! Philosophy Essay Competition run by the Royal Institute of Philosophy.
Additionally, Years 12 and 13 benefited from access to a much sought-after A level Philosophy webinar led by leading academic and author Michael Lacewing, which brought clarity and depth to some of the course’s most complex material.
From creative expression to formal debate and from independent research to national competitions, it’s been a rich and rewarding year for RPE at Channing — and one which shows that philosophical curiosity and thoughtful discussion are very much alive in our classrooms.