Humanities - History, Geography and RE
The Humanities
“Open your mind then open the door...”
Humanities is the thinking department where we delve into the world around us and think about the Who? What? Where? Why? and When?. When we are not doing that we are making volcanoes explode, model replicas of Norman castles, animal spirit totem poles or even adverts for “God” that could be coming to a TV set near you. We like to have memorable lessons and as such we use role play (such as recreating the rallying cry of Emmiline Pankhurst to the sister Suffragettes); games (The Paper bag game or Stitching Footballs in a Sweatshop); songs (singing about Precipitation (not singing in the rain); and discussions (Does Father Christmas really exist…? (The answer is more complicated than you think!)
We also feel that the class room is not always big enough to teach our subjects and therefore we have many curriculum based trips. These include our annual Pilgrimage to Canterbury in year 7, a Visit to the Coast in Year 8 and our very popular residential trip to Ypres in Year 9. Other visits have included Tonbridge Castle, the Thames Flood Barrier and a Horrible History Theatre Trip.
In Key Stage 3 (Years 7 – 9) all students have 3 periods of History and Geography per week. These are both popular optional subjects for Key Stage 4 (Years 10 & 11). Religious Education (we call it Philosophy) is taught throughout the school (Years 7-11) and most students are entered for a GCSE in this by Year 11. All three subjects are available at A level in the sixth form.
History
Year 7 History starts by looking at what skills are needed to be an Historian and different types of evidence and sources are studied. We then look at what the Romans ever did for us (quite a lot). We then begin the Middle Ages looking at the art of warfare, castle building and life in a middle age village. By Year 8 they are ready for plague, death and political intrigue in The Renaissance, the Tudors and Stewarts and a look at life and times in Victorian England.
In Year 9 we concentrate on History in the 20th Century – Women’s Rights, the two World Wars, Russia and Vietnam. _
Edexcel GCSE History B (Schools History Project)
Our GCSE historians get to look in more detail at the developments from Victorian times to the late 20th Century. They concentrate on the transformation of British Society (1815-1851), Developments in Medicine (1850-1914), The Impact of War on Surgery (Crimea to the First World War) and Germany in the Interwar periods including looking at the rise of Hitler.
AQA A Level History (HIS1F, HIS2K)
To Study A level History students need to have a real interest in the past and enjoy discussing and debating different historical events and ideas. This course enables them to have an understanding of the key events that have shaped Britain, Europe and the world that we live in. We cover the topics of - How extensive was the impact of the French Revolution on France and its neighbours? What was the impact of Mussolini’s Fascist regime on the Italian State, Development and change of Russia and the USSR, 1941–1991 and India and the British Empire 1757-1947.
Geography
In Year 7 we start by looking at What is Geography? When we have worked it out we get lost in Maps before wading through Rivers, being swept away in Floods and finally scoring with the Geography of Sport (timed to coincide with The World Cup, or Wimbledon, or some other sporting event near you) In Year 8 we are being very British and begin by discussing the Weather before wandering around Brazil, trekking through the Rainforest, going green over Energy and finally stopping to look at the wonders of Italy. By Year 9 we delve into Development, pack our bags with Tourism, get industrious with Industry and go foraging in France.
AQA GCSE Geography Specification A Full Course (4032)
All the hard work in the Lower School has prepared our students for the GCSE and they settle down to an in depth look at the Human Geography of Settlement, Population and Development and the Physical Geography of Rivers, Coasts and Tectonics.
OCR Advanced Geography (H083 / H483)
Building on the knowledge gained at GCSE, A Level Geography tempts those who want to know even more about the world around them. We look in even more depth at Managing Physical Environments, Managing Change in Human Environments and at Global Issues affecting the Environment and Economies of the World.
Philosophy (also known as Religious Education)
In Year 7 and 8 students cover many different aspects of the six major world religions; Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Judaism and Christianity. They look at the development of modern religions and how they became important over time. They also look at religious sites, celebrations and some holy scriptures and their meanings.
OCR GCSE Philosophy & Applied Ethics (B601, B602, B603 & B604)
Religious education has “evolved” (controversial) a great deal from the Ancient Days of Genesis to a much more relevant, modern take on why do we do the things we do. Many lessons are discussion based and we actually want students to have an opinion and be able to argue with us! Not only do we teach them to argue effectively but we also teach them to back up what they say with evidence. Sorry!
We cover the lighter side of life (What is all this about Creation? What is the point of God? Good versus Evil, Religion and the Media) as well as more difficult subjects (Medical Ethics, Euthanasia, Abortion, Life after Death, Animal Experimentation) Students develop a strong maturity in the lessons and many show great insights to the subjects we discuss. All students have the potential to be entered for either the Short Course GCSE or the Full Course GCSE depending on their abilities and development over the three year course of study.
OCR A Level Religious Studies (H172 & H572)
This is for those who like to ask why?
Why are we here? Why is that Good? Why is that a table? Why does my head hurt?
And those who want to question existence.
Why do I think like that? What is real? Why should I believe my senses?
And those who like to argue effectively.
Sometimes we argue about the existence of homework.
The A level looks at the Philosophy of Religion from Plato to modern aggressive atheism and Religious Ethics from ethical theories to genetic manipulation. It requires an open, enquiring mind and a critical and reflective approach to the big questions that many have wrestled with since the dawn of time.
