Humanities
We are very proud of the contribution this area makes to a student’s broad and balanced education in enriching learning and enhancing student awareness. Humanities subjects help students to investigate the world in which they live and develops their contribution as active members of society.
Committed specialist teachers utilise a variety of teaching methods to engage and motivate students. This is why students both enjoy their learning in Humanities subjects and achieve good results. The area provides opportunities to extend learning beyond the classroom with field studies and visits, backed up by extensive information and resources on the school’s VLE.
The Faculty of Humanities includes the following subject areas: History, Geography, Religious Education (RE), Citizenship (Cz) which includes Personal, Social, Health, Economic Education (PSHEe), Careers education as guidance (CEIAG), Psychology and Sociology.
Lower School
In the Lower School students have distinct lessons in History, Geography, RE and CP/PSHEe. These subjects help students gain knowledge, expand understanding and develop cross curricular skills. The area promotes a genuine interest in learning by exploring many diverse topics helping students become independent learners. Students are encouraged to evaluate topics and make judgements.
The emphasis in History is on gaining a broad chronology of some elements of British and World history, looking at broad themes in each year group.
In Geography, students study a wide range of both physical and human geography, considering the importance of geography in the UK as well as around the world.
RE lessons encourage students to develop understanding of beliefs, values and practices, as well as evaluate issues.
Citizenship / PSHE develops students’ well-being and self-esteem and encourages belief in their ability to succeed, enabling them to take responsibility for their learning and future career paths.
Upper School
The Humanities subjects are very popular in the Upper School with most students studying at least two courses at this level.
In core time, students study Personal development (Pd), which is a blended course covering Careers (CEI), Citizenship, Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education (PSHEe) and Religious Education (RE). This course gives students knowledge, skills and understanding to play an effective role in society at local, national and international levels.
In addition students can opt to study GCSE courses in History, Geography and Psychology. Optional GCSE History sharpens source skills and considers modern Twentieth Century History, both of the USA and the Korean and Vietnam Wars where students are encouraged to develop reasoned explanations for events. They then study medicine over a thousand year period, looking at change and continuity, as well as a depth study of Elizabethan England.
Throughout, there is a need for analysis and explanation and a thorough, deep knowledge of events. In the Geography option students follow an issues based specification which looks at topical world issues and the way that people adapt and change to deal with an ever changing world. Psychology is a new optional subject with students learning about how psychologists try to understand people’s behaviour and predict how they are likely to behave in different situations.
Sixth Form
Very popular A level courses are offered in History, Geography, Psychology and Sociology.
The History choice encourages students to become more independent in their learning, with a historical enquiry being the culmination of their studies.
In Geography students develop an in-depth appreciation of contemporary global challenges and the ways in which these challenges are managed. In addition, they develop an understanding of practical geography and application of field work and analysis techniques.
A-Level Psychology gives students a broad introduction to the scope and nature of the subject as a science, where the emphasis is on applying knowledge and understanding to a range of topic areas such as memory, biopsychology and psychopathology. Students engage in issues and debates in contemporary psychology.
Sociology attempts to investigate and understand the social world and human behaviour within it. Students investigate the ways in which society influences and shapes our lives via a wide range of subjects including: family and households, education, belief systems and crime and deviance.