Who should use this site?
This is not a site for pupils. It is intended to help those teaching philosophy in schools. It is addressed to those teaching the A and AS levels in philosophy and philosophy-related parts of GCSE, A and AS level Religious Studies.
How the site works
Questions from teachers will be passed to a panel of university level teachers of philosophy who are competent to answer them and willing to do so fairly promptly. The panel is chosen by the British Philosophical Association.
Before asking a question, go to the banked questions link and see whether what you want to know is already addressed. Please do not ask a second question until the first has been answered. If you would like to obtain further clarification regarding the answer you have been given, please submit this request in the form of a new question.
Teachers may ask for help in:
- interpreting passages from set texts associated with a syllabus
- planning a lesson on a topic associated with examinations and submitted course work
- finding reference material with which to deepen their understanding of a subject (e.g. a branch of the theory of knowledge or of the philosophy of mind)
Panel members are not available for second opinions on examination board assessments of student work. Nor will they try to second-guess the intentions of examiners or syllabus writers. If you need the opinion of an examiner, you should visit the web site of the examination board concerned.
Don't forget to visit our Resources Bank. (Click on the tab at the top right and scroll down for teaching resources.)
Hints
The more specific a question is, the better.
In the case of lesson plans, it may help if you suggest how you might approach a topic and invite comment, rather than get a panellist to compose a lesson-plan.
How long does it take?
The panel is staffed by volunteers, and although every effort is made to answer promptly, answers may take several days to appear.
Suggestions
Email the schools officer of the BPA, Prof. Tom Sorell. Replies to suggestions will not normally be made, but we appreciate them!