Curriculum Aims:
We want our students to:
Gain powerful knowledge as well as subject specific skills to become successful global citizens in a modern, diverse Britain.
Geography curriculum aims. We want our students to:
History curriculum aims. We want our students to:
Religious Studies curriculum aims. We want our students to:
Geography
At KS3 students study a range of
topics from Human and Physical Geography that is relevant to them and the world
around us. Geography is evolving as the world around us changes, being
adaptable and responsive in our curriculum is important to us as a result of
this to ensure we keep our students informed.
In Year 7 our Geographers study:
Module 1: Thinking
like a Geographer (local fieldwork- travel plan)
Module 2: Urban
living – Manchester
Module 3: How the
weather can impact us. (UK – weather diary)
Module 4: Being a
Global Citizen (Sustainability)
In Year 8 our Geographers study:
Module 5:
Development and life in an LIC (Kenya)
Module 6: The
Hazardous world – Tectonic processes and life in Japan
Module 7: Life in
a Cold Biome (Glaciation and Antarctica)
Module 8: Water on
the land (UK)
In Year 9 our Geographers study:
Module 9: Russia –
Resources, impact and power
Module 10: Global
population (issues)
Module 11: A
continent of contrasts (Asia)
Module 12: The
changing shape of the UK (Coastal issues)
History
At KS3 we predominantly teach through a chronological understanding of events. We believe students need a solid understanding of time periods and how events lead to change and continuity over time. As well as this, we finish each key stage three module with a thematic study on social or political History to further embed of how events and actions have changed over time. This provides extended opportunities for students to link topics together and for them to work on their long-term memory through spaced learning. Students are encouraged to compare different time periods and develop their second-order concepts, as well as improving their extended writing, evaluation and source analysis. We place great emphasis on how the role of British History had an impact on the History of countries around the world.
In year 7 our Historians study:
Module 1: Pre-1066 Britain
Module 2: Medieval Realms: The Norman Conquest
Module 3: Medieval Realms: Life in Medieval Britain
Module 4: Tudors: Establishing control
Module 5: Tudors: Life in Tudor England
Module 6: Thematic Social study: Women
In year 8 our Historians study:
Module 1: Stuarts: Life in Stuart England
Module 2: Britain as the first industrial nation – Case Study: Manchester
Module 3: British Empire: Life in the Americas, Australia and India
Module 4: The fight for civil rights: The journey from Africa to America
Module 5: The fight for civil rights: Improving lives for African Americas
Module 6: Thematic Social study: Black History
In year 9 our Historians study:
Module 1: Causes of World War 1 and Peace Settlements
Module 2: Rise of Adolf Hitler
Module 3: Role of Britain in World War 2
Module 4: Life in Nazi Germany – Case Study: Holocaust
Module 5: Life in Nazi Germany – Case Study: Holocaust
Module 6: Post war British Society
Religious Studies
At KS3 students learn from and about religion through a series of thematic studies. They students study a range of modules on different philosophical, ethical and religious concepts which are adapted from the Tameside Locally Agreed Syllabus. For homework we complete a range of topics from Religious Studies and Life Skills for students to expand on their knowledge and incorporate it into the world around them. For example, students will have opportunity to explore issues of discrimination, bullying, British Values and so much more.
In year 7 our Philosophers study:
Module 1: What difference does it make to believe in…? Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism
Module 2: What difference does it make to believe in…? Islam, Sikhism
Module 3: What is so radical about Jesus?
Module 4: What is good and what is challenging about being a teenage Muslim or Christian?
Module 5: Should religious buildings be sold to feed the starving? Christian and Muslims
Module 6: Should religious buildings be sold to feed the starving? Sikhs
In year 8 our Philosophers study:
Module 1: Does living Biblically mean obeying in the whole Bible?
Module 2: How can people express the spiritual through the arts? Buddhist, Christian, Jewish
Module 3: How can people express the spiritual through the arts? Muslim, Sikh
Module 4: Is death the end? Does it matter? Christian, Buddhist
Module 5: Is death the end? Does it matter? Non-religious worldviews
Module 6: Does religion help people to be good? Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, Sikh and non-religious worldviews
In year 9 our Philosophers study:
Module 1: Do we need to prove God’s existence?
Module 2: Do we need to prove God’s existence?
Module 3: Why is there suffering? Are there any good solutions?
Module 4: Should happiness be the purpose of life?
Module 5: Is religion a power for peace or a cause of conflict in the world today?
Module 6: Is religion a power for peace or a cause of conflict in the world today?
Students follow AQA A Geography course. the course is taught across year 10 and 11, The taught units are:Year 10 – The Living World, Urban Issues and Challenges, The Challenges of Natural Hazards, The Changing Economic WorldYear 11 – Physical landscapes of the UK (Rivers and Coasts), The Challenge of Resource Management.
There is a focus on fieldwork, enrichment and extension. Included within the course are two fieldwork opportunities: a visit to Manchester’s central business district and a local river study, as well as a residential to east Yorkshire in Term 5.
At GCSE, our students follow the History AQA specification (8145). Students sit two papers, both of which are 2 hours each at the end of year 11. The units we cover across paper 1 and paper 2 are as follows:
• Section A: Germany 1890-1945
• Section B: Peace and conflict: East Vs West, 1945-1972
• Section A: British health and the people, c1000
• Section B: Norman England, c1066-c1100
A guide of what we teach in Year 10 and Year 11 is as follows:
Term 1: Germany 1890-1945
Term 2: Peace and Conflict: East Vs West, 1945-1972
Term 3: British health and the people
Term 4: Complete our study of British health and the people
Term 5: Norman England, c1066-c1100
Term 6: Revision
There will be an opportunity for students to complete an investigation of a particular historical site for the Norman England unit, the historical site study will change annually. Examples of sites we have studied so far are Durham Cathedral, Pevensey Castle and the Battle of Hastings.
Religious Studies is offered as an option subject to Year 9 students who will sit their exam as an early entry at the end of Year 10. There is also an opportunity to choose Religious Studies in Year 10 when students make their final option choices to complete their exam at the end of Year 11. At GCSE students follow the Religious Studies AQA specification A. Students sit two papers, both of which are 2 hours each. The units we cover across paper 1 and paper 2 are as follows:
• Section A: Christian beliefs, teachings and practices
• Section B: Islam beliefs, teachings and practices
• Theme A: Relationship and Families
• Theme B: Religion and Life
• Theme D: Peace and war
• Theme E: Crime and Punishment
We interleave paper 1 and paper 2 across two years in order to help support the application of the theory of religions to 21st century issues. A guide on how we structure our teaching of RS is as follows:
Term 1-3 Students study Christian beliefs, teachings and practices as well as Theme A: Relationship and families and Theme B: Religion and life
Term 4-6 Students study Islam beliefs, teachings and practices as well as Theme D: Peace and war and Theme E: Crime and punishment