Humanties

Overview

In Key Stage 3, students follow a humanities course in which history and geography topics are taught in rotation. In Key Stage 4, students have the opportunity to specialise in history and/or geography GCSE as discrete subjects.

Our aims are

• To stimulate students’ interest and inspire their curiosity about places and the past

• For students to ask and answer important questions about issues affecting the world and people’s lives in the past, present and future

• For students to develop their own identities through an understanding of history and geography at personal, local, national and international levels  

• To develop students’ awareness and understanding of ethnic and cultural diversity in the UK and its origins

• For students to explore the connections between different periods, societies, economies and environments

• To prepare our students for the future by equipping them with the skills and knowledge that will enhance their employability and enable them to become responsible citizens within a modern democracy.

Key Stage 3

We follow the National Curriculum programmes of study for history and geography. We also take advantage of the flexibility available to independent schools in order to pursue topics of current topical or personal interest to pupils. As such, we may cover topics additional to those listed below. During years 7 and 8, the topics we cover include:

• the geography of crime

• The history of immigration in the UK

• Africa

• war and warfare

• energy and global warming

• the industrial revolution

• the Norman Conquest

The topics covered in Year 9 are designed to prepare students for GCSE and to enable them to make informed options choices:

• WWI and the peace treaties

• causes of WWII

• Nazi Germany 

Key Stage 4

For both Geography and History we follow AQA specifications.

Geography Exam Overview

History Exam Overview