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.
Dr Sian James (SEJ)
Head of Humanities, Teacher i/c WBQ and Skills Challenge Certificate, Teacher of Humanities (Humanities specialist)
Mrs Jane Jarvis (JJ)
Teacher of Geography, Teacher of the Tourism Diploma, Sustainable Development Coordinator
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 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)
Miss Catrin Owen (CMO)
Teacher of Humanities, Teacher of the Tourism Diploma (Geography specialist)
Miss Maria Senior (MLS)
Teacher of Humanities,
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.
Level 3 Applied Diploma in Tourism
This qualification develops learners’ knowledge, understanding and skills relating to UK and Worldwide Tourism. It also explores how the tourism industry must adapt to external pressures and the ever-changing needs of customers. It enables learners to gain essential employability skills that are valued by employers, further and higher education e.g. digital literacy, critical thinking and problem solving, planning and organisation, creativity and innovation and personal effectiveness.
During Year 12 learners complete two units which can lead to a Level 3 Applied Certificate. Unit 1 focuses on the UK Tourism Product and is externally assessed. Over the duration of the course learners will understand what the United Kingdom offers to inbound and domestic tourists and appreciate the range of employment opportunities available in the tourism industry. Unit 2 is internally assessed / externally moderated and focuses on Worldwide Tourism Destinations. Learners will build on their knowledge and understanding that all tourism destinations develop a range of attractions and facilities and that these destinations acquire an image and reputation that affects the types of tourists to whom they appeal.
Year 13 is also split into two units and, if both units are successfully completed, leads to the Level 3 Applied Diploma. Unit 3: The Dynamic Tourism Industry focuses on the fact that tourism is an ever-changing industry which has to adapt quickly to external pressures and changes in society at the national and global scale. It is externally assessed. Unit 4: Event and Itinerary Planning provides learners with the opportunity to understand the process of event management and the nature of tour itineraries within the UK. Learners will plan, organise, carry out and evaluate an event as part of their assessment in this unit.
Careers and Opportunities
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.
Useful Websites
Humanities: Introduction - Hwb (gov.wales)
AS/A Level Geography (wjec.co.uk)
AS/A Level History (wjec.co.uk)
