Humanities Teachers

Subject: Geography

Head of Subject: Mrs C Haggan

Vision of subject

The Geography Department encourage students to be curious and enthusiastic about the ever-changing world we live in. Students are urged to extend their knowledge and understanding of physical and human features in the world by studying a broad range of interesting and stimulating topics. We hope that through this our students continue to have a lifelong ‘conversation’ about the earth as the home of humankind.

Statement of Intent

Our geography curriculum is designed to develop student curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them throughout their lives. Learners will investigate a range of places, both in Britain and abroad to help develop knowledge and understanding of the Earth’s physical and human processes.  We aim to give our learners strong geographical knowledge, good enquiry skills, the ability to use a range of maps, the skills to collect and analyse data and the ability to communicate information in a variety of ways. We would like our students to have a love of geographical learning, gaining knowledge and skills through high quality teaching both inside and outside the classroom.  As the future generation responsible for our planet, we would like students to have a sense of respect for the world.

KS3

In key stage 3 geography students are taught in sets based on their ability for 2 hours each week. Assessments are completed during each unit of work to track and monitor the progress of students. Feedback is provided to students in terms of the skills they are working towards or have mastered. Targets for further improvement are then shared with students. Home work is set twice a half term.

KS4

Key Stage 4 Geography is a subject that is taught as a GCSE option and is a subject that is counted towards the English Baccalaureate. Students that opt to take Geography in Key Stage 4 have 3 hours a week in mixed ability classes and are working towards one GCSE qualification. They follow the AQA GCSE Geography 8035. They will be awarded a grade 1-9 following their GCSE examinations in the summer of Year 11. Assessments to track progress are set regularly throughout each half term. Feedback is related to GCSE criteria to highlight areas of strength and development throughout the course. Homework is set on a weekly basis.

Throughout their time at Kirkby, students are taught the following key skills:

Demonstrate knowledge of locations, places, processes, environments and different scales. Demonstrate geographical understanding of concepts and how they are used in relation to places, environments and processes, and the inter-relationships between places, environments and processes.

Apply knowledge and understanding to interpret, analyse and evaluate geographical information and issues and to make judgements.

Select, adapt and use a variety of skills and techniques to investigate questions and issues and communicate findings.

Overview of the Geography Curriculum

The topics students cover throughout Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 are outlined in the link below:

Curriculum Overview Geography

Links to GCSE Exam Board Specifications

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/geography/gcse/geography-8035

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/geography/gcse/geography-8035/introduction

Additional Information

KS3 students have the opportunity to take part in Geography trips, visiting speakers and fieldwork.

Homework support is available for all Geography students.

At KS4, students will take part in fieldwork activity days, to prepare them for paper 3 Geographical applications of the GCSE course

In Y10 and 11, students have the opportunity to attend regular revision classes in preparation for their exam.

Subject: History

Head of Subject: Mr J Woods

Vision of Subject

Cicero: “Not to know what happened before you were born is to remain a child forever.”

The History Department strives to foster in students an understanding and an enthusiasm for the events, people and ideas of the past.  We want to engage and excite students about the key characteristics of the past that have shaped the way we live and think today.  We believe that the study of history is paramount to understanding current world politics, economic trends, technological advances, moral choices and environmental issues that we face today.  Through this understanding of the past, our students will be better equipped to shape their choices for the future.  The study of history allows for students to broaden and develop a wide range of skills.  A large emphasis is placed on students developing the ability to determine their own arguments about events and people in the past.  They are encouraged to use a wide range of sources and evidence to help them determine their points of view.

Statement of Intent

History is a subject that forms the bedrock of our understanding of the culture in which we live as well as the wider world around us.  The content covered gives students the opportunity to explore issues at a local, national and international level from the ancient era through to the twentieth century.  This range of history offers the opportunity to explore different peoples’ perspectives on issues and events and think critically about the world in which they live.  Our curriculum is carefully sequenced to give students a broad understanding of the chronological development of British history, as well as being able to make links to other societies, cultures and world events.

Understanding key concepts within History, such as significance and causation and consequence, unlock the door for students to be able to ask leading questions, analyse information and convey their views in a methodical and structured way.  These skills are honed and developed progressively through the curriculum to create historians confident in communicating their views, both in writing and orally.  Each topic is framed around a challenging historical question which is linked to a key historical concept. Lessons mirror this, with key questions forming the basis for each lesson enquiry. This will ensure students access and apply high level vocabulary with increasing rigour over their time in history classrooms.

The History curriculum offered immerses students in a range of cultures and engenders an enquiring and critical outlook on the world, with skills that can be applied in other subjects and in their future endeavour's.

KS3

In Key stage 3 assessments are completed every half term to track and monitor the progress of students. Feedback is provided to students in terms of the skills they are working towards or have mastered. Targets for further improvement are then shared with students.

In Key Stage 3, students are taught in sets according to their ability. They receive a diet of two one hour periods per week. Home work is set on a half-termly basis via the class charts system.

KS4

At Key Stage 4 History is a subject that is taught as a GCSE option. Students that opt to take History in Key Stage 4, have 3 hours a week and will work towards a GCSE qualification. They follow the Edexcel GCSE history programme and will complete three end of Year11 examinations on the following topics:

Paper 1: Crime and Punishment in Britain, c1000 – present and Whitechapel, c1870 – 1900: crime, policing and the inner city.

Paper 2: Period study: The American West, c1835 - c1895.

Depth study: Early Elizabethan England 1858 – 88.

Paper 3: The USA, 1954 – 75: Conflict at home and abroad.

They will be awarded a grade 1-9 following their GCSE examinations in the summer of Year 11. Assessments to track progress are set regularly throughout each half term. Feedback is related to GCSE criteria to highlight areas of strength and development throughout the course.

Throughout their time at Kirkby, students are taught the following key skills:

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the key features and characteristics of the periods studied.

Explain and analyse historical events and periods studied using second-order historical concepts.

Analyse, evaluate and use sources (contemporary to the period) to make substantiated judgments, in the context of historical events studied.

Analyse, evaluate and make substantiated judgments about interpretations (including how and why interpretations may differ) in the context of historical events studied.

Overview of the History Curriculum

The topics students cover throughout Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 are outlined in the link below:

Curriculum Overview History

Links to GCSE Exam Board Specifications

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/history-2016.html 

Long Term KS3 and 4 Scheme of Work

Y7 Themes/Focus

Roman Empire

The Battle of Hastings

Norman England

Medieval England

Y8 Theme/Focus

Tudors & Stuarts

Religious conflict

Political conflict

Industrial Revolution

Industrial entrepreneurs

Industrial towns

Victorian England

The Slave trade

Y9 Theme/Focus

International Conflict

Causes of WW1

World war 1

Democracy and Dictatorship

Causes of WW2

Life in Nazi Germany

Impact of War

(GCSE Trial) USA Civil Rights

(GCSE Trial) Vietnam

Y10 Theme/Focus

Terms 1 & 2 - Paper 1: Crime and Punishment in Britain, c1000 – present and Whitechapel, c1870 – 1900: crime, policing and the inner city.

Term 3

Paper 2: Period study: The American West, c1835 - c1895.

Y11 Theme/ Focus

Term 1

Depth study: Early Elizabethan England 1858 – 88.

Term 2

Paper 3: The USA, 1954 – 75: Conflict at home and abroad.

Term 3

Revision sessions

Additional Information

Open door policy Tuesday to Thursday for student catch up, homework guidance and revision.

Prior to exams Y11 students will be expected to attend weekend and holiday revision/ booster classes.

Subject: Religious Studies

Head of Subject: Mrs C Maloret

Vision of Subject

“Do not train children to learning by force and harshness, but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.’’ - Plato

The RE Department strives to encourage children to show an interest in diversity and the rituals and beliefs about the world in which we live. We want to engage and excite students about the main world religions, morality and philosophical thinking.  We believe that the study of  RE is important to developing young people to think critically, act ethically and understand people’s differences through having an open mind and tolerance. Through this understanding of the world around us, our students will be better equipped to shape their choices for the future. The skills learned in RE will allow them to debate, discuss, evaluate and critically analyse. These skills will give young people a voice to be heard.

Statement of Intent

In Religious Education, we aim to make analytic and open-minded learners through a broad and balanced curriculum. We give learners the opportunity to express themselves and have a voice, both through oracy and through extended writing tasks.

The curriculum allows students to learn about a variety of religions at Key stage 3 and focuses on Islam, Christianity and humanist approach at KS4. The lessons are planned to engage students to challenge and try and make sense of the big philosophical and ethical questions humans have in life.

In RE, the curriculum aims to weave core British values of justice and equality alongside the impact of religion on individuals and communities.

RE provides are students with the skills to communicate, empathise, evaluate and debate.

KS3

In Key stage 3 assessments are completed every half term to track and monitor the progress of students. Feedback is given to students about what they have done well and how they can improve. They are also given a ‘stage’ showing the skills they have mastered which allows them to see how closely they are working towards their flight path.

In Key Stage 3, students are taught in sets according to their ability. They receive one hour per week. Home work is set on a half-termly basis via the class charts system.

KS4

Overview of the Religious Studies Curriculum

The topics students cover throughout Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 are outlined in the link below:

Curriculum Overview RE

Links to GCSE Exam Board Specifications

Links to GCSE Exam Board Specifications

The specification code for GCSE Religious Studies is Route A3 – including Component 3 Option 3: Islam C120P3

http://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/religious-studies/gcse/

Long term KS3 and 4 Scheme of work

Year 7- Themes

Community and founders

Responsibility and commitment

Crime and punishment

Forgiveness

Nature of God

Festivals and celebrations

Year 8 Themes

Relationships

Worship

Creation

Life after death

Abortion

Science versus religion

Year 9 Themes

Rules and laws

Human rights

Extremism

Good and evil

Islam and Christianity beliefs in action

Year 10

Term1  -Beliefs and teachings of Christianity & Islam

Term 2 – End of life

Term 3 –Human rights

Year 11

Term1 – Human relationships

Term 2 –Good and Evil

Term 3 – Re-call and revision

Additional Information