An important part of learning at Shiplake is the co-curricular visits and workshops which all students experience. Learning about different subjects outside the classroom is helpful to gain a broader point of view, and hearing from other people and applying lessons to real life prove invaluable ways to gain a true and thorough understanding. On Friday 18 November, all current Year 11 Theology and Philosophy pupils attended a conference in Oxford, to learn more about philosophy and ethics, run by Dr Peter Vardy for Candle Conferences. Thank you to Head of Theology and Philosophy, Miss Elizabeth Morgan, for the following report on an insightful day:
‘On Friday 18 November all GCSE pupils headed to the Oxford Town Hall to attend a one-day Philosophy and Ethics GCSE conference. This was hosted by the fabulous and charismatic Dr Peter Vardy, a renowned scholar in the field of Religious Studies. The day involved a number of lectures on various aspects of the curriculum, including war and peace, genetic engineering and environmental ethics. Pupils from schools around the country attended the conference, with over 220 pupils there. There were two debates within the programme, in which students could express and argue their views and perspectives. The first of these debates was ‘this house believes the use of drones in warfare is morally acceptable.’ During this, our very own Sam Ellis volunteered to take the microphone, and presented a convincing case regarding the difficulties of attempting to justify actions through the consequences, as the end result of any act can be very unpredictable. Vardy himself exclaimed this was an astute point, and one he would be considering in a later lecture concerning A-Level material!
Later in the day Ben Dinsdale also confidently represented the College, by highlighting the dangers of creating a genetically perfect human race with two separate arguments. In my experience of taking students at GCSE and A-Level to Vardy’s conferences, I have never had a student gain the confidence to give their opinion in front of hundreds of peers – I was extremely proud to have two students from Shiplake break that trend. A big thank you also to Head of Psychology Mr Richard Ebbage for accompanying the trip.’