Head of Faculty is Mr M Fairclough. Second in Department is Mr D Petrie. Humanities is the study of people, their environment and their past.

Humanities looks at people over different times and places. It encompasses the subjects of Geography, History, RE and Citizenship.

Teaching staff take every opportunity to keep up to date and increase their understanding and resources for teaching. This includes teacher visits to Iceland and Sarawak in Malaysia, and also Auschwitz in Poland.

More about Humanities

The study of people, ideas and events of the past is called History. The study of physical and human environments in different parts of the world is called Geography. The study of other people's religions is called RE.

Humanities helps pupils to gain knowledge and understanding of the world they live in. It also helps them to make sense of important events happening around the world today.

What happens in Humanities in Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9?

Students have 2 x 1 hour periods of Humanities each week in Year 7 and 8. They have 3 in Year 9. The lessons combine History, Geography and RE, and are taught through different topics in each year.

Within Year 7 students are taught:

History - The Roman Empire: Medieval Realms: Britain 1066 - 1485

Geography – My Passport to Geography and the Risky World

RE - Creation Stories: Islam: Family, Rights and Responsibilities

In Year 8 students study:

History - Making of the UK 1500 - 1750: Black Peoples of the Americas and the Industrial

Revolution.

Geography- Travelling the World and Feeding the World

RE - Christianity, Holy Books, Founders and Leaders.

Year 9 students study:

History - World War One: World War Two and the Holocaust.

Geography – Our Changing Population, Our Changing Climate.

RE - Festivals, Journey through Life, Life in the Community.

The lessons all take part in the Humanities Base. All the classrooms have an interactive whiteboard and have frequent access to the school's 9 ICT suites. Students learn by:

Talking.

Writing.

Listening.

Thinking.

Reading.

Watching.

Acting.

Drawing.

ICT.

Inductive Learning

Learning Styles to suit individuals - Visual, Auditory, Kinaesthetic

What about GCSE?

In Key Stage 4 there are a number of courses on offer to students for GCSE qualifications. All students can chose one Humanities option - from History, Geography or Citizenship.

Options are taught over 3 lessons per week in Year 10 and three in Year 11. This offers students the best possible access to the course and maximises their achievements. In future, we hope to offer further Humanities based GCSE courses.

How do we help your child?

Textbooks, ICT and resources - Pupils will use a wide range of new textbooks.

Learning and support - Extra help is given to pupils who are experiencing difficulties with their learning. More challenging work can be set for more able pupils. Able and Talented and SEN tasks are identified within all Schemes of Work.

Recording Achievement - The progress and achievement of your child is carefully monitored and assessed. The "instant success" board in the Humanities corridor is used for outstanding pieces of work

How can you help your child?

Homework - Take an interest in the work your child brings home and encourage them to complete it on-time.

Fieldwork - Give your support to any fieldwork or out of school learning activities.

Encourage your child to find out about the past and the world they live in at home – documentaries, films, and the Internet can enrich and broaden your child’s knowledge and help them gain the background knowledge to improve at Humanities.