Students Join Oxford & Cambridge Scholars for National Philosophy, Ethics & Religion Masterclass
This week, our Year 12 and 13 Religious Studies students travelled to Bloomsbury Baptist Church in London to take part in one of the UK’s most prestigious Philosophy, Ethics and Religion Masterclasses - an intensive academic event attended by Sixth Formers from across the country.
Designed to push intellectual boundaries and deepen subject expertise, the masterclass offered students a rare opportunity to learn directly from leading academics, including renowned philosophers and theologians from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
Across the day, students immersed themselves in university-style lectures exploring some of the most challenging questions in human thought. Topics included:
- Euthanasia and moral responsibility
- God, science and the problem of suffering
- Is faith rational in the 21st century?
- Religious experience: evidence or illusion?
Each session encouraged students to analyse, interrogate and evaluate complex ideas—developing the kind of high-level critical thinking skills essential for top-grade A Level performance and competitive university applications.
This academically rich experience not only complements the A Level curriculum but also encourages intellectual independence, academic resilience and philosophical curiosity. Many students commented on how the lectures mirrored the pace, depth and rigour of undergraduate teaching.
The day concluded with “The Big Debate”, a dynamic, student-driven discussion where participants were invited to challenge assumptions, articulate arguments, and apply real philosophical reasoning in real time. For many, it was the highlight of the day - a chance to put theory into practice and experience the excitement of genuine scholarly debate.
Events like this reflect Radnor’s commitment to academic excellence and to preparing students not only for exams, but for the intellectual demands of life beyond school.
