Humanities

Staffing

• Mrs Bugler – Curriculum Leader for Humanities 
• Miss Naylor – Assistant Curriculum Leader for Humanities: History and Geography
• Miss Worsley –  Assistant Curriculum Leader for Humanities: Religious Studies and Life Skills
• Mrs Banks – Lead Practitioner for Humanities 
• Mr Mosley – Teacher of Humanities (History)
• Miss Phillips – Teacher of Humanities (History)
• Mr Pollard – Teacher of Humanities (History)
• Mrs Moss – Teacher of English and Humanities (History)
• Miss Davidson – Teacher of Humanities (Geography)
• Mr Peet – Teacher of Humanities (Geography)
• Mrs Frost – Teacher of Humanities (RS)

Curriculum Aims: Geography curriculum aims

We want our students to:

1.      Be active global citizens, equipped with skills and knowledge to survive in a diverse world.

2.      Develop students’ powerful knowledge about the world in which we live, focusing on human and physical processes and how their interaction causes change.

3.      Equip students to be able to use knowledge, skills and concepts confidently when speaking and writing about Geography.

History curriculum aims

We want our students to:

1.      Become critical and independent thinkers that can understand how Historical narratives have influenced the society around us.

2.      Promote British heritage and values, and understand the role this plays in an ever-diversifying British society.

3.      Foster the love of learning and enjoyment of History both inside and outside the classroom.

Religious Studies curriculum aims

We want our students to:

1. Know and understand a range of religious and non-religious worldviews, leading to a sense of awe and wonder.

2.      Develop a love of learning and be respectful and accepting, preparing students for life in modern, diverse Britain.

3.      Engage students in systematic enquiry into significant human questions which religion and worldviews address.

Life Skills curriculum aims

We want our students to:

1.      Lead a healthy, safe and productive lifestyle and become active citizens who make a positive contribution to society.

2.      Have a clear understanding of Sex and Relationships and Health Education; work related learning and the wider issues around social, emotional and attitudinal learning.

3.      To respect and uphold the law and the processes of democracy and to reflect the British values of respect, harmony and tolerance that we strive to instil into the young people of Droylsden.

Key stage 3: 

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.

 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.   

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.

GCSE Geography

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.

GCSE History

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:

Paper 1: Modern World depth studies 

•    Section A: Germany 1890-1945
•    Section B: Peace and conflict: East Vs West, 1945-1972

Paper 2: British History breadth studies

•    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:

Year 10: 

Term 1: Germany 1890-1945
Term 2: Peace and Conflict: East Vs West, 1945-1972
Term 3: British health and the people

Year 11:

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.

GCSE Religious Studies

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:

Paper 1: Religions

•    Section A: Christian beliefs, teachings and practices
•    Section B: Islam beliefs, teachings and practices

Paper 2: Religion, Philosophy and Ethics

•    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:

Year 10:

Term 1-3 Students study Christian beliefs, teachings and practices as well as Theme A: Relationship and families and Theme B: Religion and life

Year 11:

Term 4-6 Students study Islam beliefs, teachings and practices as well as Theme D: Peace and war and Theme E: Crime and punishment