Humanities

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Humanities is the study of History and Geography. It is an essential part of the curriculum at LDA being a key element of the EBACC and a respected discipline within the school. Pupils at KS4 must study either history or geography at GCSE. The history curriculum follows the EDEXCEL course and the geography curriculum follows the AQA course.

History Curriculum

Year 10

Rationale: Pupils begin their study of GCSE history by studying Crime and Punishment through Time c1000-Present Day. The unit focuses on how crime, law enforcement and punishment changed through four distinct time periods 1000-1500 (medieval), 1500-1700 (early modern), 1700-1900 (18th and 19th centuries) and 1900-present day (modern). These changes in crime, law enforcement and punishment reflect societal changes and allow pupils to understand the development of not just crime, law enforcement and punishment but the wider experiences of people at all levels of society. Pupils then focus on the historical environment of Whitechapel c1870-c1900 and investigate how people living in this area were affected by the high levels of poverty and crime and the police response to this. Key historical skills such as examining and testing evidence, analysis and extended writing are embedded throughout the curriculum and then tested in the final exam. Next, pupils study Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060-1088. This unit begins by focusing on the reign of the Anglo-Saxon King Edward the Confessor and how Anglo-Saxon society had developed by 1066. The death of Edward the Confessor in 1066 without a clear heir led to the Norman invasion of 1066 and after William of Normandy’s victory at the Battle of Hastings, the beginning of Norman control of England. Pupils then explore the changes that took place in England under the Normans, many of which have a direct influence on life in Britain today.  Key historical skills such as creating a historical argument, analysis and extended writing are embedded throughout the curriculum and then tested in the final exam.

Year 11

Rationale: Pupils begin their study of history in Year 11 by studying The American West, c1835-c1895. Pupils begin their study of this unit by focusing on the lifestyle of the Plains Indians and how migration and settlement by white Americans disrupted this traditional way of life. This settlement of the West led to the development of modern America, a collection of individual states with their own laws and regulations but under the control of a federal government based in Washington. Pupils explore how the lifestyle of these new settlers and their determination to achieve manifest destiny, particularly the desire to mine gold, the expansion of the cattle industry and the development of the trans-continental railroad led to the ultimate destruction of the Plains Indians. Key historical skills such as writing a narrative account, analysis and extended writing are embedded throughout the curriculum and then tested in the final exam. Finally, pupils study the USA 1954-1975: conflict at home and abroad with a focus on the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War. The study of civil rights allows pupils to understand the effect that segregation and discrimination had on the lives of black Americans and the work of the civil rights groups who protested and demanded change using non-violent direct action. Pupils gain an understanding of the dissatisfaction with the civil rights movement from Black Power groups who highlighted problems caused by institutional racism such as poverty and unemployment and the work of politicians to bring about constitutional change. It is important that pupils realise that alongside these tumultuous events at’ home’, the USA was simultaneously involved ‘abroad’ in the Vietnam War. The course begins with an exploration of why America became involved in the Vietnam War and why it struggled to defeat the Vietcong and win support from the general population of South Vietnam. Pupils then investigate the reactions to the Vietnam War from people back home in America and the ultimate failure of the USA to stop the spread of Communism from North Vietnam to South Vietnam. Key historical skills such as comparing interpretations of the past, analysis and extended writing are embedded throughout the curriculum and then tested in the final exam

Geography Curriculum

Our Geography curriculum inspires pupils to be curious and have a fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Teaching equips pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. As pupils progress, their growing knowledge about the world helps them to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes, and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments. Geographical knowledge, understanding and skills provide the framework and approaches that explain how the Earth’s features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change over time. The curriculum is designed to teach acceptance and engagement with the fundamental British values of democracy, rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

Useful links

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/geography/gcse/geography-8035
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/zy3ptyc

Curriculum Pathways

History Curriculum Pathway
Geography Curriculum Pathway

KS4 Modular Overview

History Modular Overview
Geography Modular Overview

Faculty

Mr M Kemp: Head of Department, Humanities
Mr A Lloyd: Head of Geography
Mr D Lindsay: Leader of Religious Studies and PSHE/Classroom Teacher, History
Mrs S Bannon: Classroom Teacher, History/Head of Year
Mr S Owen: Classroom Teacher, Geography/Head of Year
Miss L O’Neill: Classroom Teacher, Geography
Miss I Williamson: Classroom Teacher, History/PSHE
Mrs J O’Neill: Classroom Teacher, Religious Studies
Mr L Fitzgerald: Classroom Teacher, History

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