Shell Guide to the Curriculum 2026-2027

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CORE SUBJECTS

CORE SUBJECTS

CAROL

Classics The study of Classics has always been strong at St Edward’s. Today, it still plays a key and integral part of our curriculum all the way through the School to university entry. In the Shell year, you all study at least one Classical subject, through a wide ranging course that embraces varying levels of language and cultural work. Following initial assessment, you will be in a class best suited to your experience and skill set, to help you develop your understanding from your own starting point. Those of you without previous experience of Latin will gain some, and many often go on to GCSE success and beyond. All the sets, irrespective of how much Latin you know, also study key aspects of Graeco-Roman culture, society, history, ideas and ideals, debating ancient attitudes, which demand to be challenged. Additionally, you can also choose to study Ancient Greek, as currently 25% of the year group do, either as a beginner (the majority) or you will be in a set with others who have already done some.

Theology, Philosophy and Ethics

A key part of Classics at Teddies is to encourage you to engage critically with primary evidence (literary, epigraphic, archaeological and other material culture), regarding what we do and don’t know, so we go on trips to various sites and museums around the country. Your learning will be assessed at various points in the year, both formally and informally, the latter making use variously of Quizlet, Kahoot and Blooket. We also run a very active junior classical society, meeting fortnightly, called the Lower Lyne and run largely by Sixth Formers. This is creative, discursive and above all fun.

How much can animals think? Can artificial intelligence feel? Are war and torture ever morally justified? What is the relationship between religion and science? These are just some of the questions that you will explore whilst studying Theology, Philosophy and Ethics in the Shell year. You will be able to stand on the shoulders of giants, such as Descartes, Kant, Aristotle and Aquinas, to make informed judgements and to feed your curiosity.

In the Autumn Term, the Sentience and Sapience unit will help you to consider what it means to be human and how similar or different we are to animals and machines. The Ethics and War unit will give you an understanding of the debate surrounding the morality of war and will let you consider how it is waged with modern technology such as drones. Finally, in a unit on Religion and Science, you will be able to think about whether these worldviews are in competition or harmony.

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GUIDE TO THE SHELL CURRICULUM 2026–2027

GUIDE TO THE SHELL CURRICULUM 2026–2027