Philosophy and Religious Studies
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Department Staff
- Mr Bruce Kinsey
- Mrs Judith Gardom
The Department
The Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies has two teachers with different interests who have enjoyed building a strong and lively place for thinking, exploration and debate. Never prepared to take an easy, simplistic answer they are keen in the academic pursuit of truth.
Mr Bruce Kinsey
Before coming to The Perse, Mr Kinsey was Chaplain and Fellow at Downing College Cambridge for ten years. Having completed post graduate studies in Oxford and London, he worked in HM Prison Wormwood Scrubbs as well as with those living with HIV/AIDS. He has also worked in India and parts of the Middle East. Mr Kinsey is a trained counsellor and a registered psychotherapist. He has many interests both philosophical and theological and continues to study in the philosophy of psychology, and the philosophy of Religion. He is currently researching in the area of religious violence and is writing on healing. He has two dogs Algernon and Poppy and wonders what Plato meant when he said 'the dog has a soul of a Philosopher'.
Mrs Judith Gardom
Judith has a First Class Degree in Philosophy and theology from Balliol College, Oxford, and a PGCE from Homerton College, Cambridge. Before coming to The Perse she taught at the National Anglican Theological College of Zimbabwe, and also at a secondary school in Bulawayo. She maintains strong links with Zimbabwe and is on the Archbishops' Board of Examiners, which interviews Anglican candidates for worldwide mission. She helped to plan and research the Faith Zone in the Millennium Dome, and is particularly interested in death rituals and funerals, and in African Christianity. Philosophically her interests have been continental philosophy especially the writings and ideas of Heidegger, Sartre and Kierkegaard. Mrs Gardom teaches the textual papers in Philosophy at AS and A2 Level (currently Descartes and Hume), and Religious Studies to Years 7, 8 and 9.
The Teaching
The subject is taught throughout the school. The Lower School follow a more traditional approach to Religious Studies which then opens out to choices at GSCE in Philosophy and Ethics and at AS/A2 in Philosophy.
We start in the first year with looking at ideas of belief in God and about people in Hinduism, we consider the role and influence of Christianity in the history and art of the West and finally move to a consideration of Sikhism.
In the second year we broaden our understanding of the world of faith and philosophy with work on Aquinas, Feuerbach, Paley and Pascal. There is also work on Buddhism and an introduction to Ethics.
The third year turns to the monotheistic faiths Judaism, and in the fouth year we look at depth at Islam.
In the fifth form further work is done on Moral Philosophy, considering the basic questions on how we make decisions and how we are influenced in them. Consideration is given to views of those with faith as well as to those who are atheists and humanists. By the use of video interviews we consider some of the issues of living in a multicultural society and the influence of the press.
The GCSE Option
Although there is some limited teaching of Religious Studies in the GCSE years, there is also the option to study at depth following the OCR option for Religious Studies [Philosophy and Ethics]. OCR have produced a recommended text for this study which we use along with additional specialist material. In 2007 84% of those who took this option achieved a grade of A*.
The Philosophy Topics are:
- The Nature of God
- The Nature of Belief
- Religion and Science
- Death and the Afterlife
- Good and Evil
The Ethics topics are:
- Religion and Human Relationships
- Religion and Medical Ethics
- Religion and Equality
- Religion, Poverty and Wealth
- Religion, Peace and Justice
The AS/A2 option
In the Sixth Form pupils may work for the AQA A Level in Philosophy. Currently at AS there are three components:
- The Theory of Knowledge
- The Philosophy of Religion
- Textual work on Descartes
At A2 there are three components, an extended synoptic essay, an exam on the Philosophy of Mind and further textual papers. In 2007 all the pupils who took the A level were awarded an A grade.