Aims and philosophy

Critical Thinking aims to give students the opportunity to develop those skills required in identifying and evaluating the relative strengths and weaknesses of arguments - skills which are central to the process of arriving at reason-based judgement.

It is a fundamental academic competency and its disciplines and practices are useful and applicable across a wide range of AS and A-level subjects. Critical Thinking skills also enhance students' ability to construct their own rational arguments.

Its intellectual purity and growing academic status make it an increasingly attractive option for boys hoping to gain entry to the top universities.

Curriculum

Source material suitable for critical analysis can come from scientific journals, historical documents, parliamentary debates, newspaper features and letters pages, and so on. The syllabus itself first introduces the language of reasoning before moving into areas such as identifying patterns of reasoning, recognising and evaluating assumptions, evaluating credibility of sources and presenting one's own rational arguments. The examination consists of two papers: Paper 1 requires a combination of multiple choice and short answers; Paper 2 is essay-based. There is no coursework element in this subject.