The Humanities Department is committed to ensuring that all our pupils make steadfast progress in History, Geography, RVE and PSE through the experience of excellent teaching which engages, inspires and motivates them. All learners will have the opportunity to continue studying Humanities subjects to GCSE and A-Level; they will become capable learners, a skill which will help them throughout their lives. The Humanities Department wishes to nurture a sense of cynefin in our learners. This is the place where our learners feel they belong, where the people and landscape around them are familiar and the sights and sounds are reassuringly recognisable. Cynefin is not just a place in a physical or geographical sense: it is the historic, cultural and social place which has shaped and continues to shape the community our learners reside in. In tandem, we aim to nurture a curiosity about Wales and the wider world, sending our learners out to be valued members of society, global citizens in the multicultural and diverse world of the 21st century.
The Humanities Department plays an important role in readying our learners for adult life. It consists of five disciplinary areas:
Geography, History and Religion, Values and Ethics sit within the Humanities Area of Learning and Experience, whilst Personal and Social Education sits across the Humanities AoLE and the Health and Wellbeing AoLE as this discipline is both an area of social study and a medium for developing the knowledge and understanding of our learners in terms of their physical development, mental health, emotional and social well-being.
Mrs Jane Jarvis (JJ)
Head of Humanities , Teacher of Geography , Teacher of the Tourism Diploma, Sustainable Development Coordinator
Mr Jeff Powell (JFP)
Teacher of Geography, Assistant Headteacher, Teacher of the Tourism Diploma
Mr Adam Campion (AC)
Teacher of Geography, Assistant Headteacher
Mr Nick Rees (NR)
Teacher of History
Mr Colin McKibben (CM)
Teacher of History, Teacher of WBQ and Skills Challenge Certificate
Mr Russell Musgrove (RM)
Teacher i/c PSE , Teacher of PSE, Teacher of WBQ and Skills Challenge Certificate, Teacher of Public Services
Mr Richard Dennis (RD)
Teacher i/c RVE / Religious Studies, Teacher of RVE / Religious Studies, Teacher of WBQ and Skills Challenge Certificate
Mrs Rebecca Greenow (RG)
Teacher of Humanities, (History specialist)
Dr Sian James (SEJ)
Teacher i/c WBQ and Skills Challenge Certificate, Teacher of Humanities (Humanities specialist)
Miss Catrin Owen (CMO)
Teacher of Humanities, Teacher of the Tourism Diploma (Geography specialist)
Year 7
Within the Humanities AoLE we have chosen nine overarching concepts through which we will deliver our curriculum as discrete, but interlinked disciplines. Together they contribute to realising the four purposes of the Curriculum for Wales.
Humanities @YBE Overarching Concepts:
Cynefin / Conflict / Change and Continuity / Development / Inequality / Journeys / The elements / People Power / Material World.
We have designed a curriculum where cross-curricular skills, integral skills and cross-cutting themes will be delivered seamlessly through our lessons helping our learners to develop the skills necessary to interpret and articulate the past and the present whilst imagining possible futures. Year 7 Geography topics include Cynefin and Connections, Weather, Climate and Climate Change and Sustainable Development. Year 7 History topics include Conquest and Cynefin, Medieval Life in Britain and Explorers. Year 7 RVE topics include Cynefin, Christianity Past, Present and Future and The Path to Enlightenment. Year 7 PSE topics include Safe Relationships, Anti-Bullying Awareness, Online Safety and Healthy Lifestyles.
Year 8 and 9
With an eye on the future, our Year 8 and 9 Humanities curriculum is currently being re-designed in line with the new Curriculum for Wales. KS3 Geography topics include Italy, Natural Hazards, Industry, India, Fluvial Environments and ‘Where do people live?’ KS3 History topics include The Tudors, The Stuarts, The Industrial Revolution, The British Empire, Slavery, The Great War and World War 2. KS3 RVE topics include Religious Buildings, Religious Festivals, Sacred Texts, Medical Ethics, Inequality, Stewardship and Religious Ceremonies. KS3 PSE topics include Multicultural Britain, The Criminal Justice System, Living in a Democracy, Consumer Rights, Looking After Our Money, Careers, Substance Misuse and Mental Health.
Our KS3 Humanities curriculum aims to help learners appreciate the extent to which they are part of a wider international community, fostering a sense of belonging that we hope will encourage them to contribute positively to their communities both now and in the future. We hope to contribute to the development of healthy, confident individuals, ready to lead fulfilling lives both in the workplace and as valued members of society.
Year 10 and 11
GCSE Geography
The GCSE Geography specification adopts an enquiry approach to the study of geographical information, issues and concepts. It encourages learners to become critical and reflective thinkers by engaging them actively in the enquiry process. It requires the development of an intellectual, scientific, social, moral and aesthetic understanding of the world in which we live.
This qualification is divided into three units of study. Unit 1 involves the study of two core themes: Landscapes and Physical Processes and Rural-urban Links. Topics include the study of distinctive landscapes, rivers, coasts, population, urbanisation and global cities. Learners will also study Coastal Hazards and their Management, an optional unit which adds breadth of knowledge to the core. Unit 2 also has two core themes: Weather, Climate and Ecosystems and Development and Resource Issues. To build on the knowledge and understanding gained in the core themes a further optional unit is studied: Social Development Issues. In Unit 3 learners are given the opportunity to develop their skills of geographical enquiry through fieldwork. They undertake two fieldwork enquiries, each in a contrasting environment. In the Autumn Term of Year 11 learners then complete a NEA, based on these fieldwork experiences, which is externally marked.
Sixth Form
Geography GCE AS/A Level
The AS/A level Geography specification encourages learners to apply geographical knowledge, theory and skills to the world around them. In turn this will enable learners to develop a critical understanding of the world’s people, places and environments in the 21st Century. This course will develop skills e.g. literacy, numeracy and digital competence, that can be transferred to other subjects, both those in the Arts and the Sciences, and will enrich learner’s academic development.
The AS course includes the study of: Changing Coastal Landscapes, Tectonic Hazards (with a focus on volcanoes and earthquakes) and Changing Places. Learners will have the opportunity to participate in two fieldwork investigations (one human and one physical environment will be investigated) and these experiences will be examined as part of this course.
The A2 course is split into three units. Unit 3 includes the study of Water and Carbon Cycles, the processes and patterns of global migration, the global governance of the Earth's oceans and 21st Century Challenges. Unit 4 revisits Tectonic Hazards and also includes Ecosystems and Energy Challenges. Unit 5 requires learners to undertake an Independent Investigation (NEA) which is internally assessed and externally moderated.
Studying any humanities subject(s) at GCSE, GCE AS/A Level or Diploma level will provide a suitable foundation for the study of a humanities subject or related area through a range of higher education courses. Equally, these disciplines share many transferable skills, preparing our learners for the world of work or apprenticeships. Examples of career paths may include the law, geosciences, sales, environmental protection, information technology, management, finance, banking, marketing, research, teaching, engineering and building, arts, design and media and town planning.
Humanities: Introduction - Hwb (gov.wales)
AS/A Level Geography (wjec.co.uk)
AS/A Level History (wjec.co.uk)
