Humanities

Why is Humanities Important?

Humanities is important because it helps students to explore how human society works and interacts with the natural world. From history, teaching students the human journey to the present day, to geography showing students the human effect on the natural world, to RE helping students ask the big questions, through to citizenship empowering students to actively involve themselves in change, humanities offers a broad understanding of the full spectrum of human experience.

Humanities at KS3

At Key Stage 3 in Citizenship students study units of work on decision making, the media, the law, young people and crime, conflict, pressuring for change and public services, and are assessed in relation to all the key skills; all students are taught to debate issues and develop independent skills of critical enquiry and research ready for Key Stage 4 study.

At Key Stage 3 in Geography students study units of work on crime, hazards, the World Cup, global climate change, tourism, and the Olympics. Key skills developed at Key stage 3 include critical thinking, problem solving, numeracy and ICT, and independent learning.

At Key Stage 3 in history students study units of work on the development of power in the UK from 1066 to the modern day, and international relations, including a unit called the world at war. Key skills include learning to use sources to make inferences about the past, and critical thinking and research skills.

At Key Stage 3 in RE students study units of work on authority; movers and shakers, Jesus, concepts of God, rules and laws, writings and justice, prejudice and discrimination, suffering and evil, and conflict and war, with a focus on the key skills reflection, analysis, interpretation, evaluation and communication.

Humanities at KS4

At Key Stage 4 in citizenship students study units of work on government and parliament, the European Union, diversity, the economy and business, consumerism, campaigning for change, and globalisation and are assessed in relation to all the key skills. The study of citizenship culminates in a short course GCSE in year 10 which is converted into a full course GCSE in year 11.

At Key Stage 4 in geography students study units of work on population and environment, rivers and coasts, natural hazards and economic development. Key skills developed at Key stage 4 include critical thinking, problem solving, numeracy and ICT, and independent learning.

At Key Stage 4 in history students study the AQA syllabus on Modern World History, focusing on international relations and the Cold War, with depth studies on Germany and the USA. This again involves key skills of critical thinking, debate, research and inference.

At Key Stage 4 in RE students study the units 'Relationships', 'Is It Fair?' 'God, Life and Death' and 'Our World', with a focus on the key skills of reflection, analysis, interpretation, evaluation and communication.

At Key Stage 4 in sociology students study units of work on what is sociology, family, education, mass media, social inequality, and crime, with a key skills focus on research, critical thinking and debate.

Humanities Post-16

Students use humanities subjects as a platform to go on to further study in both academic and vocational subjects, with humanities key skills of essay writing, critical thinking, debating, campaigning, and empathy having broad application across many other subject areas. In particular, students of history and citizenship find their knowledge and skills are highly relevant to studying academic subjects such as law and politics, or in a more vocational setting, sociology, RE and citizenship would suit students pursuing a career in social work or the Police. Geography’s cross-curricular basis equips students with knowledge and many skills which can be applied to a variety of future courses of study and careers.

Beyond the Classroom

Humanities involves assorted learning experiences which take students out of the classroom, with visits from magistrates and outside speakers; trips to visit Parliament, museums, religious communities and locations of geographical interest; and even citizenship themed hip-hop days, all enriching the learning experience of students immensely.

How can parents support their child?

Parents can support their child by discussing and debating current affairs and encouraging them to watch the news and think critically about what is reported.

Useful Links

http://www.citizenshipfoundation.org.uk/
www.bbc.co.uk/gcsebitesize

http://www.johndclare.net/ (history)

http://www.gatm.org.uk/ (geography)