Philosophy Philosophy at Fortismere is a new and popular subject. It is studied at AS and A level and follows the AQA syllabus. The growth and establishment of the subject at Fortismere is interesting and quite unusual in that it was given curricular space in response to the demands of students. I believe their story is worth telling. Some years ago a group of students approached me expressing interests in exploring questions of a philosophical nature, in a philosophical manner. In response to their enthusiasm I formed an after school philosophy club that met weekly every Friday. The club grew and ran for many years. Students attended from a variety of year groups. Guest speakers gave talks, visits were made to relevant lectures and the club hosted and organised debates, discussions and wrote papers. Eventually with the onset of AS - A levels, and in response to students and parental demand, the school formalised the subjects' study by placing it within the sixth form curricular offer. Since its inclusion in the sixth form its take-up has grown, as has its success as an examination subject. The Department is well resourced and has results that are impressive. Students have gone on to study the subject at the highest level at top Universities, one, at writing, is reading for his PhD and has offered to give a talk to the current year 12s studying the subject. Many have found a study of the subject a useful intellectual support for their other AS/A level subjects. The course gives students a thorough grounding in how some of Philosophy's basic questions have been answered by some of the great minds that have addressed those questions. Questions like What is of value in life? What can be known and how it can be known? Are there moral truths, or merely moral feelings? Issues concerning the nature of the State and the principles of its organisation. Are mind and body separate substances? If you have ever thought seriously about questions of this kind, you have already tasted philosophy. Progress in answering these questions requires clear and rigorous thinking, sensitivity to conceptional distinctions, imagination, understanding, often a sense of humour, always a sense of wonder, a delight in discussions and listening and crucially the ability to think for oneself. For specific details of the course studied at AS/A2 levels see the AQA syllabus: AS 5171 and Advanced 6171.