Philosophy Week

Our Philosophy & Religion department hosted a thought-provoking week, encouraging pupils to engage in lively, philosophical discussions.

During Philosophy Week, pupils shared their responses to a daily question as they arrived at school. Teachers and A Level students handed out coloured pens for everyone to write their views on the glass walls of the atrium, pondering questions such as why evil exists.  

The theme for this year was ‘social cohesion’ – the topic of a House essay writing competition and the basis of a series of talks led by Sixth Formers.  A Level Philosophy & Religion students ran lunchtime sessions based on the early morning questions, so students could develop their understanding of the ideas. Year 9 also participated in a workshop exploring political and ethical philosophy, looking at concepts of ownerships and rights while imagining being on a desert island.

Lower Sixth Philosophy & Religion students enjoyed a day of university-style lectures at an academic conference at Bloomsbury Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King once gave a speech. They attended a range of masterclasses with leading academics, with topics ranging from the mysteries of death and the afterlife to the representation of women in biblical literature, followed by a debate on natural law.

Our annual week aims to encourage critical questioning and underline the enduring value of philosophy for the development of human thought; it follows UNESCO’s World Philosophy Day, which highlights the importance of the discipline in working towards a better understanding of the world and promoting tolerance and peace.