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Humanities

Humanities At Filsham Valley School

Humanities is essentially about people: how they create the world they live in, and how the world they live in makes them the people that they are.

Our students learn about and learn from:

Past Times – History in a human context
Places – Geography in a human context.
Beliefs – Religious Education in a human context

Department Aims

The primary aim of the Humanities Department is to realise the full learning potential of every student.

The Department has a responsibility to enable all students to:

Enjoy the learning process by providing stimulating, varied and appropriate tasks to meet the needs of the individual.

Achieve the highest possible academic standards in National Curriculum Geography and History, and the East Sussex Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education.

Develop spiritually and morally.

Acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills necessary for the full and meaningful participation in a democratic system and a global society.

Develop respect and tolerance for others.

Develop respect for the environment.

Extend their I.C.T. capability, and use I.C.T. to consolidate their skills, knowledge and understanding in Humanities.

Develop the ability to challenge prejudice and stereotyping as seen by the students themselves, and in any resources to which they become exposed.

Humanities and the whole school curriculum

The aims and objectives of the Humanities Department are entirely consistent with the aims of Filsham Valley School. The delivery of the Humanities curriculum makes a major contribution to the “encouragement of positive citizenship and the development of strong links with the wider community through beneficial partnerships”, and the encouragement of personal responsibility and the development of self-esteem, mutual respect and an understanding of equal opportunities”. Equality of opportunity is further fostered by the challenging of stereotypes and prejudice, as seen by the students themselves and in any resources to which they become exposed.

Humanities is essentially about people: how they create the world they live in, and how the world they live in makes them the people that they are. It is essential that our students learn about and learn from past times (History), places (Geography) and beliefs (R.E.) in a human context.

At Filsham Valley School, in Year 7, Humanities is taught in modules. Most of these modules are distinctively “Geography”, “History”, or “R.E.”, but there are considerable cross-curricular links within each module. This provides a coherent framework on which our students can develop their own personal values in a variety of contexts, and enable them to appreciate the beliefs and practices of others. In Year 8 the Humanities course progresses, although R.E. is taught as a separate subject.

In Key Stage 3, the Humanities curriculum is geared to the National Curriculum subjects of History and Geography, and the East Sussex Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education. Together they share a concern for the human condition on local, national and global levels. They have the common long term aim of helping people acquire the knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes necessary for the full and meaningful participation in society. In doing this, Humanities has an essential place for all students regardless of ability, gender or age.

Year 9 is seen very much as a preparation for GCSE; students are in mixed ability groups and are taught separate subjects of Geography, History and R.E.. Despite their being separate subjects in Year 9, the important Humanities perspective of putting Humans and Humanity as the main focus of study still holds true. Cross-curricular links are seen as just as vital.

In KS4 RE is delivered through the Personal & Social Education programme. A short-course GCSE in Religious Education is provided for all students in Year 10. In Year 11 there are two GCSE Geography groups and two History groups. In Year 10 there are two Geography groups, and two History groups. The Options subjects of Geography and History sets have an appropriate balance of ability, gender and SENIMS students.

In Key Stage 5 The Department provides A Level courses in Geography, History, Sociology and R.E., and Advanced VCE in Travel & Tourism.

Humanities makes a substantial contribution to the cross-curricular themes, dimensions and skills. In particular “Environmental Education”, “Education for Citizenship” “Economic and Industrial Understanding”.