To help keep all pupils safe, please ensure the school has up-to-date information about any allergies your child may have. Accurate allergy information enables us to put appropriate support plans in place, train staff effectively, and respond quickly in an emergency. We all have a part to play in creating a safe environment, including following our nut-aware policy and being mindful of the food brought into school. If your child has an allergy, please contact the school or update their details via Arbor. Be Allergy Aware and Save A Life - see more here.
The Ethics curriculum at Paignton Academy is designed to develop students' understanding of religion, philosophy and ethics whilst encouraging them to think critically about the world around them. Through the study of beliefs, practices and contemporary issues, students build substantive knowledge alongside reflective and analytical skills that enable them to engage thoughtfully with a range of viewpoints.
At KS3, students are introduced to key aspects of Abrahamic and Dharmic religions, alongside important ethical issues and concepts such as Human Rights. Students explore a variety of beliefs, values and traditions while developing their ability to question, discuss and evaluate different perspectives. Learning is assessed through low-stakes retrieval practice, questioning and formal assessments at the end of each cycle. As students progress through KS3, prior learning is revisited and extended, enabling them to deepen both their substantive knowledge and their reflective understanding. By the end of Key Stage 3, students will have developed skills in persuasive writing, empathy, analysis, evaluation and recall.
At KS4, students study the AQA GCSE Religious Studies qualification. For Paper 1, students explore Christian Beliefs and Practices and Islamic Beliefs and Practices, developing a detailed understanding of the teachings, traditions and influence of both religions in contemporary society. For Paper 2, students study the thematic topics of Peace and Conflict, Religion and Life, Crime and Punishment, and Relationships and Families. These units encourage students to consider complex moral, philosophical and social issues, applying religious teachings and ethical arguments to a range of real-world situations.
Throughout KS4, students regularly revisit prior learning through retrieval activities, consolidation lessons and GCSE-style exam practice, helping to strengthen long-term memory and examination confidence. Assessment includes regular formal assessments alongside PPE examinations. Students continue to develop critical thinking, empathy, persuasive writing and evaluative skills, enabling them to construct balanced and well-supported arguments.
By the end of their time studying Ethics at Paignton Academy, we aim for students to have developed a broad understanding of religious, philosophical and ethical concepts, alongside an appreciation of diversity and differing worldviews. Students will leave the course as thoughtful, informed and reflective young people who can engage confidently with the moral and social issues that shape modern society.