Expanding Horizons

WHAT IS EXPANDING HORIZONS:

Expanding Horizons is a compulsory subject for all Sixth Formers at Frensham Heights. It’s a dynamic subject that gives students the opportunity to learn about and discuss what is happening in the world today, from global issues to those closer to home. This course has been created and is delivered by the Philosophy, Religion and Ethics Department with the specific aim to encourage students to think critically about society, to reflect on their own views, and to challenge each other. Ultimately, we aim to equip students with the skills and knowledge that they will need to play a full and active part in society. Because Expanding Horizons reflects the changing world that we live in, the content is somewhat changeable and the topics that we study will vary year on year. However, there are some core topics (such as sexual and relationship health, and drugs and alcohol awareness) which we always cover to help to ensure that our students have the information and confidence that they need to keep themselves and each other safe as they move into adulthood. For example, topics we have spent time exploring include; the Black Lives Matters protests, migration, Covid-19, and the death penalty. One of the best things about this subject is its flexibility; we are able to spend time discussing the issues that students are genuinely interested in, and we welcome their feedback and input in choosing what we will study. Through the Expanding Horizons programme, students are encouraged to challenge themselves and their own preconceptions. We encourage open, honest and respectful conversations, creating an environment where students can feel safe expressing their own beliefs, whilst also developing the confidence to debate with others. Lessons are discursive, with sessions being more likely to resemble a seminar than a lecture. Through a combination of supported independent research, small-group discussions, and whole-class debates, students develop a range of study skills, helping to prepare them for the world of work and further study in Higher Education.