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Philosophy

Thorpe St Andrew School and Sixth Form

Laundry Lane, Thorpe St Andrew, Norwich, Norfolk, NR7 0XS

GCE A/AS Level or Equivalent
Level 3
History, Philosophy and Theology

Available start dates

Available start dates

Sunday, 01 September 2024
Thorpe St Andrew School & Sixth Form
2 Year(s)
Full time
Daytime/working hours

Application Instructions

Please apply for all courses via Help You Choose. Applications will open on October 21st.


In order to ensure success in the Sixth Form, we have designed different pathways to suit your individual needs. Please see below for the specific entry criteria. In addition to this, students will need to check the specific entry criteria for their chosen subjects by checking each course descrpition.

The General Pathway

This pathway is for students who are unsure about which way their future will take them and therefore would like to keep their options as open as possible by gaining UCAS points with their Module Two Option.

Module One: three A Levels

Module Three: Enrichment Course

Module Four: Academic Coaching

You will need English and Mathematics at Grade 4 or above and at least four other GCSE subjects at Grade 4 or above.

The Combined Pathway

This pathway is for students who are unsure which way their future will take them and therefore would like to keep their options as open as possible.

Module One – either one of the three below options:

Two A-levels and one specialist qualification (equivalent to one A Level)

One A-level and two specialist qualifications (equivalent to one A Level each)

Three specialist qualifications (equivalent to one A Level each)

Module Two: Enrichment Course

Module Three: Academic Coaching

You will need English or Mathematics at Grade 4 or above and at least four other GCSE subjects at Grade 4 or above.

The Specialist Pathway

This pathway is equivalent to three A Levels and is designed for students who already know which career path they would like to take. Please refer to our on offer to view the range.

Module One: Advanced Specialist Qualification

Module Two: Work Placement

Module Three: Enrichment Course

You will need English or Mathematics at Grade 4 or above and at least four other GCSE subjects at Grade 4 or above.

The Extended Pathway

This pathway is for students aspiring to study at Oxbridge or one of the Russell Group Universities or who want to follow a high-demand course such as Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary, Law or Engineering.

Module One: Three A Levels

Module Two: One Advanced Subsidiary Level

Module Three: Enrichment Course

Module Four: Academic Coaching

You will need English and Mathematics at Grade 5 or above and at least four other GCSE subjects at Grade 5 or above.

The T Level Pathway

This course is equivalent to three A Levels and is designed for students who already know which career path they would like to take.

Module One: T Level Course

Module Two: Industry Placement

You will need English or Mathematics at Grade 4 or above and at least four other GCSE subjects at Grade 4 or above.

Course Summary

Philosophy is the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence. Philosophy looks at sociological, psychological and religious responses to the big existential questions in life and how philosophers have attempted to respond to these questions. This is an appropriate choice if you are curious and want to explore the answers to the greatest questions in life; Why are we here? Are we free? Who are we? This is also a good choice for future Lawyers, Doctors and for careers in Public Services.

Course Details

Epistemology
What can we know? What is knowledge? What is the truth? Where do ideas and concepts come from? We will study the limits of knowledge and critique these concepts through reading Aristotle, Plato, Descartes, Locke and many other key Philosophers.
Moral Philosophy
How do we decide what is morally right to do? Ethical theories and ethical language. The theories covered are Utilitarianism, Kantian ethics and Aristotelian virtue ethics. Issues studied include, stealing, simulated killing (in computer games and films for instance), eating animals and telling lies.
Metaphysics of God The concept of God
We will unpick the logic of what “God” is. Arguments relating to the existence of God will be debated, which include, the Ontological argument and the Teleological argument. We will investigate the problem of evil and deduce if God and evil are a logical combination. Religious language will interrogate the idea that when we speak of God or religion, are we speaking of anything at all.
Metaphysics of Mind
What is mind? What is mind without body? The “Philosophical zombie argument”. We will interrogate the metaphysical relationship the Mind/Brain has with the body, its identity and analyse behaviour. We will consider if you are your mind, and if that is so, who are you?

How will it be delivered and assessed?

Two written examinations both worth 50%


Entry requirements

• You will need to achieve the pathway criteria, please see the prospectus for further information

• You will need to achieve a Grade 4 or above in GCSE English Language


Your next steps...

The logical and critical thinking skills acquired in Philosophy lends itself to many diverse areas of Higher Education study and career paths such as Politics, Medicine, History, Philosophy, Law, Linguistics, Ethics, Classics, Anthropology, Psychology, English, Astronomy, Sociology, Accountancy and Mathematics.


For more courses like this, check our courses page.