Humanities

Intent

The Humanities curriculum will allow pupils to know and understand the history of Britain as a coherent, chronological narrative, from the earliest times to the present day. Including how people’s lives have shaped the nation and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world. Alongside this pupils will get a broader sense of what is meant by ‘British Values’ and how geography can and has implemented changes.

Content

Throughout the academic year Key Stage 3 pupils will study six different time periods which will consist of Ancient Greece, The Anglo-Saxons, The Normans, The Renaissance, The Victorian Era and The Modern World. These periods are also being studied across all key stage 3 subjects. In Humanities each unit will be studied with elements of History, Geography and Religious Education to fully understand changes throughout History and how they have an impact on life today.

Implementation

The Humanities scheme of work allows pupils to develop their knowledge of the time periods as well as developing the following skills:

• Primary and secondary source analysis
• Annotation
• Chronology
• Team work
• Presentations
• Map skills
• Atlas Skills
• Essay writing
• Summarisation
• Reading- skimming/comprehension
• Evaluation of culture and the origins of specific cultures.
• Ethical questions within changes in history.

The skills developed will help pupils prepare for their GCSE examinations in a variety of subjects. 

Different learning styles are supported throughout the lessons in order to support pupils’ engagement and focus: for example, using worksheets, text books, PowerPoints, discussion and poster work including timelines.

Assessment

Pupils will be assessed throughout the units with selected pieces of work designed to be marked and graded using a modified GCSE mark scheme. Each unit then has a full assessment with modified GCSE style questions and mark schemes for History, Geography and Religious Education.

Impact

All pupils complete a baseline upon entry to the academy which tests their ability to comment on a sources utility, having to draw very little previous historical knowledge. As it does not assess knowledge on the topics to be covered (as History has not always been previously taught to each pupil), therefore, each pupil work from the same starting point.

Intake at different points of the year has an impact on potential outcomes as there is a significant volume of subject knowledge to be acquired, requiring a high level of commitment from the pupils. This is something that we have to consider when making exam entries and is discussed with individuals who may choose to focus on intervention for other areas. 

The inclusion of Key Stage 3 Humanities in our curriculum allows more of a continuation of learning for our pupils continuing at the academy onto History, Citizenship and Business Studies or moving on to study History, Geography, Religious Education as well as the above.

Career Links

Cross-curricular links