The Department of Philosophy, Religion and Sociology has one full-time and one part-time subject specific teachers. There are two dedicated classrooms located in the Bonar building.
The teaching of Religious and Moral Education in the Junior School is the responsibility of delegated staff in the Junior School. Although this department does contribute to some of the teaching for specific year groups, the curriculum is determined by the Junior School.
In Forms 1 and 2 all six major religions are studied in a systematic framework. Form 1 focuses on Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism. Form 2 focuses on Christianity, Islam, and Sikhism. Each of these religions will be examined in the context of their central tenets of belief and their response to contemporary moral issues. In addition, pupils are introduced to other philosophical and religious views, which inform people’s perspective on the world and are used to justify their moral decisions.
In Forms 3 and 4 the focus of study becomes more directed towards normative ethics. Current philosophical debates and moral issues are examined and pupils are introduced to the philosophic and religious commitments, which direct individual and corporate moral decision making. Pupils also are encouraged to formulate and rationally justify their own moral point of view on each of the issues examined. (Each year completes an Intermediate 2 unit in Religious Moral and Philosophical Studies.)
In Forms 5 and 6 pupils are invited to pursue a SQA Intermediate 2 or Higher course award in Philosophy and in Religious Moral and Philosophical Studies. The Philosophy course provides pupils the opportunity to examine rhetoric and argumentation, metaphysics, epistemology, and moral philosophy. The Religious Moral and Philosophical Studies course provides pupils with the opportunity to extend and deepen their knowledge of philosophic and religious debates, and to conduct a closer examination of one of the main world religions.
For further details, please visit the curriculum pages.