GENERAL RPE
WHAT WILL I LEARN? The full General RPE programme includes topics such as: • • • • • • • • • • •
The Meaning & Purpose of Life; Soul, Mind & Body; Life after Death; The Problem of Evil & Suffering; Medical Ethics: Euthanasia & Abortion; Social Justice; New Religious Movements; Approaches to Morality; The Ethics of Social Media; Traditional and Modern Spirituality; and Meditation & Mindfulness.
General RPE is a programme for all pupils not completing the IGCSE course in Religion, Philosophy & Ethics. Pupils will attend one timetabled lesson each week and have the opportunity to explore traditional and contemporary religious, spiritual, philosophical and ethical thinking in a non-examined format. A breadth of religious and non-religious perspectives will be explored throughout the programme; pupils will be expected to participate in an objective and considerate manner. It is anticipated that General RPE will benefit students in a number of ways. These include: • Cultivating empathy, the ability to understand people and take on board others’ views;
18 / The GCSE Years 2021-2023
MR M S THATCHER
• Deconstructing and solving a range of complex problems; • Developing research, analytical and presentational skills; • Formulating questions effectively; • Fostering the ability to work methodically and accurately; • Honing the ability to interpret and synthesise information; • Improving individual writing skills, accurate referencing and the construction of a reasoned argument; • Refining the ability to understand the meaning of written sources; • Sharpening the independence of mind and the ability to think critically.
