2025 – 2026 Highlights: Religion, Philosophy and Ethics

A New Key Stage 3 Curriculum

Year 7 students began their philosophical journey by grappling with some of humanity’s biggest questions: What is the self? What is the purpose of life? What can we truly know? These discussions naturally led them back to the birthplace of Western philosophy, where they explored the ideas of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle alongside schools of thought such as Stoicism.

The unit culminated in one of the year’s highlights, as Year 7 placed Socrates himself on trial for corrupting the youth of Athens. Thanks to an outstanding defence team, the philosopher was found not guilty.

Year 8 explored the Abrahamic faiths, comparing different understandings of prophecy while examining both the similarities and differences between religious traditions. Their studies then turned to Human Rights and Social Justice, where students debated questions surrounding religious freedom and freedom of speech before designing and pitching their own vision of the ideal society.

Several Year 7 and Year 8 students also chose to extend their learning by entering the ISRSA Theology, Philosophy and Religion Essay Competition. The standard of entries was exceptionally high, reflecting both intellectual curiosity and a willingness to engage with challenging ideas. Beatrice W’s essay on the Great Flood was highly commended by the judging panel and deserves special recognition.

Meanwhile, in Year 9, moral philosophy took centre stage. Students explored the complex and highly relevant field of Medical Ethics, debating the allocation of healthcare resources, patient autonomy and competing moral frameworks while applying philosophical thinking to real-world dilemmas. Their study of Crime and Punishment continued these discussions, encouraging students to examine justice, forgiveness and the death penalty through a range of ethical perspectives.

Across every year group, Channing students have consistently shown that they are not afraid of intellectual discomfort; they embrace it.

Beyond the Classroom

Higher up the school, the new PPE Society was launched in collaboration with the Politics and Economics departments. This student-led forum explored a wide range of issues spanning all three disciplines, from debating the democratic legitimacy of the House of Lords to examining the moral and economic implications of student loans, government bailouts and rent controls.

The Society has quickly established itself as a thoughtful space for rigorous interdisciplinary discussion, encouraging students to engage confidently with some of the most pressing political, philosophical and economic questions of our time.

Looking Ahead

As this academic year draws to a close, we look forward to the future of the department with great excitement. Another year of embracing intellectual challenges with the same determination, curiosity and joy awaits us.