The Humanities:

History, Geography and Religious Education

History

All pupils take History in Years 7-9. The course is designed to encourage them to analyse, evaluate and understand people of a different period of time and place: what was important to them, what were their lives like, what events changed their lives.

The topics studied are:

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9
  • The Romans
  • The Norman Conquest
  • Medieval Kings
  • Medieval People
  • Elizabeth I
  • Britain, 1750 - 1900
  • The Civil War
  • The Glorious revolution
  • Industrial change
  • Twentieth Century conflicts
  • The Holocaust
  • The British Empire
  • Indians of North America

History GCSE

Why is the world the way it is today? Why has there been so much conflict in the world? How do we try to resolve this conflict? How does it affect ordinary people?

The GCSE History course tries to answer these questions. Students follow the 'Modern World History' syllabus which prepares themfor a GCSE in History. It covers 'international relationships' from 1918 to 1989 with the opportunity to look at certain issues in depth.

During the two-year course their work includes the study of the following topics:

  • Conflict in the Modern World
  • Germany 1918 - 1939
  • U.S.A 1919 - 1941
  • Vietnam 1939 - 1975

These topics will be assessed in three examinations.

 

Click here for support materials for History

 

Geography

Geography is about understanding places, people and the environment. It is also about understanding change, both identifying it and helping pupils to become informed citizens of planet earth.

Fieldwork plays an important part in learning throughout the whole school. Pupils are involved in studying their environment and will take part in regular fieldwork inquiries and visits. Fieldwork days include work on the River Glen, orienteering, and a coastal study.

All pupils in Year 7 - 9 follow a course which emphasises skills set within a context of themes, using specific place studies in local, national and global situations:

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9
  • Map & Atlas Skills
  • Weather
  • Rivers
  • Population
  • Environmental Issues
  • Settlement
  • Earth Structure & Hazards
  • The East Midlands
  • Europe
  • Egypt
  • Japan
  • Global issues

Geography GCSE

Are you interested in the world all around you? Do you want to be able to make informed decisions about where to work, where to live and where to go on holiday? Are you concerned about the environment? Do you want to develop skills you will find useful long after you have left school? There has never been a better time to study Geography. It leads to a qualification which links to many other subjects and is highly valued by employers.

The GCSE course continues to develop skills, themes and specific place studies in a more abstract and demanding context which includes coursework. The main topics covered are:

  • People and the Physical World
    		• - Covering plate tectonics, rivers and coasts;
  • People and Places To Live
    		• - covering population and settlement;
  • People and Their Needs
    		• - covering the quality of life, economic activities and energy;
  • People and The Environment
    		• - covering local environments and the global environment.

Pupils learn:

  • Map skills;
  • How to use ICT (Information and Communication Technology);
  • How to collect and interpret data gained through fieldwork;
  • How to make decisions and solve problems.

Assessment

There is a choice between two levels of entry: Foundation and Higher.
At Foundation level (Papers 1 and 3) the grades available are G to C and at Higher level (Papers 2 and 4) the grades available are D to A*.

Coursework: During the course, pupils complete one piece of coursework. This will involve collecting information through fieldwork. Their enquiry will normally be 2500 - 3000 words in length and must use ICT at appropriate points.
Examination: At the end of the course students take two examination papers. The first lasts 2 hours and will test knowledge and understanding. The second lasts 1 hour and will test skills and understanding.

Click here for support materials for Geography

 

Religious Education

Students take Religious Education in all years. The course follows the Lincolnshire Agreed Syllabus though the school has no affiliation with any particular religion. While emphasis is placed on a study of Christianity, time is also given to consideration of other major world faiths. A thematic approach is made to the subject, covering such areas as celebration, signs and symbols, places of worship and rites of passage.

At Key Stage 4, all students take Religious Education as part of the core curriculum.
The course is in four sections:

  • Moral issues - birth control, abortion, war & peace, use & abuse of addictive substances
  • Ultimate Questions - value of life, equality within a community
  • The role of religion - in the past and for the future
  • Study of a religion - two in depth projects on religions of your choice

Parents who wish to withdraw their children from Religious Education lessons should, in the first instance, contact the Curriculum Leader for R.E. who will be able to outline the alternative provision that can be offered. Click here to contact the school now.