Philosophy vs Philosophy & Ethics A Level

[popuptent]

Does anyone have an opinion on the differences/similarities and which would be the better choice? Personally, I prefer the look of Philosophy on its own but DS would have to move to a different secondary 6th form to take it. I read somewhere that it was slightly harder than the Phil & Ethics course.

[Millymollymama]

I do not think it matters at all. It is the subjects that he is doing with it that will matter. Assuming they include two/three strong academic facilitating subjects, then no-one will worry too much about the 4th subject. He should do the course he will enjoy. Changing schools to do Philosophy, which is not an A level normally required by any university, seems excessive and disruptive.

[senua]

It's a fallacy to think that any course of study will be a 100% fit with your requirements. Even getting to the rarefied heights of Finals year at University, with apparently billions of modules to choose from, it still often comes down to mundane deciding factors like timetable clashes.
Look at the bigger picture.

[popuptent]

Thank you. "Look at the bigger picture" is excellent advice. Other possibilities are Drama, Geog, History, Eng Lit, Politics. As he doesn't really know what he wants to do (maybe Philosophy or Drama) then I understand he needs the facilitating subjects.

[Millymollymama]

History, Eng Lit, Drama and the Philosophy and Ethics Course are fine if he is interested in Drama. He has 2 facilitating subjects with that combination. Drama is fine with English Lit, by the way. If he is interested in it, do it.

[popuptent]

Thanks again. It all seems way off in the distance at the moment and course choices may well up being dependent on the grades he gets!

[futureme]

Both are fantastic courses, not usually taught in the same school/college as the department will have a preference for one or the other.

I certainly wouldn't choose a school over it!

[BertrandRussell]

Dd did philosophy, theatre studies and English at as and dropped history at a2. She got 5 offers for philosophy, 4 Russell group. it's not a massively competitive course So I would encourage him to stay where he is. 6th form's really short- and you don't want to waste time settling in somewhere new if you can help it.

[popuptent]

Thanks Bertrand. I think I will encourage him to stay where he is now. I could see him really taking to Philosophy as a subject but the essay writing could be a potential stumbling block. Well done your DD!

[BertrandRussell]

I didn't mean to be show offy- it really is a less competitive course than many! Dd is in her second year and loving the course- but there is quite a lot of essay writing. She did an EPQ and says that was a huge help with doing essays.