Skip to content
referalearnerFind my match

GCE A Level in Religious Studies

at Cheltenham Bournside School, Cheltenham · school or sixth form

Level 3A levelsGCE A level2 yearsFull time

What the college says

This course presents students with an opportunity to grapple with some of the most profound questions that have puzzled philosophers since the time of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Does God exist? Why is there a universe, rather than nothing? Is there any point to pain and suffering? And how sure can we be when we try to answer these questions. How to decide what is right and what is wrong – and how to tell the difference – is something that we ask ourselves every day. Students will consider answers to these questions by studying ethical theories such as utilitarianism, natural law and situation ethics and apply them to real-life situations. Students can test their instincts by debating about which is more important: happiness, loyalty or love? They will also consider whether the choices we make are really our own, or whether free will is just an illusion. Students will also take an in-depth look at the world’s largest religious tradition – Christianity – to learn its most important beliefs and its impact on the lives of believers. They will consider how relevant religion is in modern society and debate whether it should be.

What you need to get on

See our current Sixth Form Prospectus for further details.

How you are assessed

Academic subjects, mostly exams, three or four at once. The traditional route to university.

What this level means

The A-level-equivalent step, and what universities and employers ask for.

Is it open to 16 to 18 year olds?

Approved for 16 to 18 study on the government's Section 96 list.

Where it runs

  • Cheltenham Bournside School and Sixth Form Centre

    Warden Hill Road, Cheltenham, GL51 3EF

    DaytimeClassroom based
    Check the journey

Start dates

  • 2 September 2026 · Cheltenham

Who else teaches this exact qualification

Same qualification, different college. Entry requirements and how it is taught can differ a lot between them, which is the whole reason to compare.

See all 146 providers teaching it