Humanities
The Humanities Department aim to nurture all students in their progression towards self-motivated, independent and resourceful learners. This can happen both within and without the classroom; fieldwork being a particularly valuable feature of study.
The body of knowledge found in the study of History, Geography, Religious Studies and Empowerment enables students to develop their sense of self, their connections to their community and to the wider world. We would hope that students would recognise and value differences in cultures and faiths; appreciative of the behaviours such creeds might have. An understanding of the interconnectedness of the past with present and future generations supports young people in the choices they make and their impact as citizens.
The department recognise the value of transferable skills inherent in the study of the Humanities. In particular these include analysis of information, succinct communication, team working, reflection and debate.
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Geography |
History |
Religious Education |
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Rivers |
The Norman Conquest |
Buddhism |
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Weather & Climate |
Medieval Society |
The Big Story of the Bible |
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Brazil |
The Making of the United Kingdom |
Judaism |
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Aspects of Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) including mental wellbeing and relationship and sex education are also taught as Empowerment. |
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Year 8 |
Geography |
History |
Religious Education |
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Climate Change |
The Atlantic Slave Trade & Abolition |
The Five Pillars of Islam |
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Asian economies |
The Industrial Revolution |
Rites of Passage |
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Coasts |
Empire |
Creative spirituality |
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Aspects of Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) including mental wellbeing and relationship and sex education are also taught as Empowerment. |
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Year 9 |
Geography |
History |
Religious Education |
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Globalisation and Development |
The development of democracy |
What do Christians believe about Jesus? |
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Glaciation |
Women’s Suffrage |
The problem of evil |
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Tectonics |
Twentieth Century Conflict |
Sanctity of Life |
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Aspects of Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) including mental wellbeing and relationship and sex education are also taught as Empowerment. |
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Key Stage 4 |
Geography |
History |
Religious Education |
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AQA Geography course leading to GCSE |
AQA History course leading to GCSE |
Non-examined RE |
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Physical and Human geography and one also Geographical skills including fieldwork are assessed at the end of Year 11. |
Two Modern World themes and two British History topics assessed at the end of Year 11. |
The three strands for RE education and believing, expressing and living. These are assessed internally. |
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Aspects of Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) including mental wellbeing and relationship and sex education are also taught as Issues & Ethics. |
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AQA GCSE Geography
What will I learn?
This course builds on skills and knowledge learnt during KS3. There is a mixture of Human Geography, for example population studies, and Physical Geography, for example natural hazards. There will be some geographical enquiry where students will need to use their geographical skills to investigate and develop a decision making process to evaluate a problem.
How will I learn?
There will be a mixture of group work, paired work and independent learning. Access to ICT will support the research into the latest information on topics. Fieldwork will also be a requirement from the exam board.
How will I be assessed?
This is a linear course which means that all formal assessment will happen at the end of the course. There will be three exams which together will make up 100% of your mark. Fieldwork will be assessed within these units.
What can I progress to?
Geography is highly regarded by 6th form colleges and higher education as a subject that requires many skills in research, data processing and presentation of information so it will always look good on applications to college.
Careers which use the skills learnt in Geography include Town Planning, Resource Management, Conservation and Teaching.
AQA GCSE History
What will I learn?
The course covers four units of work from medieval times to the modern day. We will be studying topics titled: The Norman Conquest, Medicine and Health in Britain from Medieval Times to the 21st Century, German History from 1890 – 1945 and Conflict and Tension in the Modern World.
How will I learn?
Through a wide variety of activities; independently, paired and in groups. Some of it will be literacy based: newspaper articles, speeches, source analysis and essays; others more practical: research activities, debates, presentations.
How will I be assessed?
The course is a linear one so all formal assessment happens at the end of Year 11. There will be two exams at the end of the course. This will make up 100% of your mark.
What can I progress to?
History is highly regarded by 6th form colleges and higher education as a rigorous and challenging subject so it will always look good on applications to college. Careers which use the skills learnt in History include law, any sort of management, business, accountancy, teaching, army and police work.
AQA GCSE Religious Studies
What will I learn?
Component 1: The study of religions: beliefs, teachings and practices. This involves a study of the beliefs, teachings and practices of two religions from: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism.
Component 2: The study of two religious, philosophical and ethical studies themes and a study of Mark’s Gospel.
The religious, philosophical and ethical studies themes include:
- Relationships and families
- Religion and life
- The existence of God and revelation
- Religion, peace and conflict
- Religion, crime and punishment
- Religion, human rights and social justice.
How will I learn?
Through a wide variety of activities; independently, paired and in groups. Some of it will be literacy based: newspaper articles, speeches, source analysis and essays; others more practical: research activities, debates, presentations. Class discussion is a very important aspect of RE.
How will I be assessed?
The course is a linear one so all formal assessment happens at the end of Year 11. There will be two exams at the end of the course. This will make up 100% of your mark.
What can I progress to?
Religious Studies shows that you have an understanding of a wide variety of different cultures and opinions and have had the opportunity to think about what you think about many ethical issues. Careers which use the skills learnt in RE include those where we are involved in connecting with people such as retail work, administration, social work and teaching, army and police work.
For further information on any aspect of Humanities at Aylestone please contact Mrs Inglis