Humanities

The Humanities department aims to develop a curriculum which supports each pupil to:

• Become an independent learner through encouragement and guidance and reflection, giving students the opportunities to achieve to the best of their ability.

• Develop the skills pertinent to Hums, but those which will also have an impact on everyday life e.g. analytical and evaluative skills as well as character traits like open-mindedness, fairness and compassion.

• See the world as a whole, and their place within it.

At NEECA we recognise that every individual has a different starting point when they join us, so the supportive curriculum and skills learning we offer are an integral part of our intent.

The KS3 Humanities curriculum within NEECA is delivered using a carousel model. Each half term students learn about a different topic/theme around History, Geography, and Philosophy & Ethics. Learners are educated within small class groups where teaching and learning is planned using the National Curriculum.  KS3 groups usually receive two lessons each week.

GCSE History is a new course being introduced this year.  Students study for three exam papers - British History; World History and History Around Us. Students will have the opportunity to undertake some fieldwork as well.  Entry Level is offered for those students who are unable to complete all the GCSE curriculum.

All students are aware of the learning intention at the start of the lessons and this is continually referred back to in order to inform progress and learner understanding..  Modelling is an important part of teaching strategy, and we follow the “I do, we do, you do” model when new materials or concepts are introduced.

Through a variety of activities using stimuli such as film clips, quizzes, games modelling etc students are challenged to address the issues studied in connection with real life and the world around them.

Humanities aims to incorporate elements from all three Humanities subjects.  However, this plan is flexible and can be deviated from to make it more relevant to a particular group of learners; to join up with cross curricular themes or national events e.g. National Holocaust Day. 

The Humanities department at NEECA aims to support work covered at referring schools, therefore supporting transition back into mainstream when appropriate.  We have challenged our students to re-engage with learning and show that they have the resilience to do this. Their books should reflect progress that has been made and a curiosity about the world around them, and a willingness to think and comment on the global issues that will impact them, i.e. climate change.  GCSE offers students the chance to study History in more depth as well as gaining skills such as analysis and engaging with the nature of evidence.

OCR GCSE History B / Entry Level History

AQA Unit Awards

We are mindful of the needs and backgrounds of our pupil cohort.  We understand that some of the subjects covered can lend themselves to issues that our students have experienced in their lives.  Staff are aware of this and will teach in a sensitive and appropriate way.  We want the students to know where they can get support if needed and aim to give them the tools to deal with situations that may not be safe for them.

All staff are aware of the procedure for dealing with any disclosures that may occur.

Literacy skills are an integral part of our Humanities curriculum.  A wide variety of text types is used; including explanation, information, argument and instruction - this then enables students to access information.  We have a mini library of relevant books and magazines that students can access in the lesson to enhance knowledge or simply read for pleasure.

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​We support reading in the classroom with a range of strategies, including teacher reading aloud; using the Frayer model to develop new vocabulary/break down word understanding; and reading around the word.

To follow

Humanities is assessed in a variety of ways:

• Constant formative assessment in class

• Extended writing - conclusions

• Investigative work of a key question

• Verbal assessment via questioning

• Using data to draw conclusions

GCSE

• Exam-type questions

• Three exams in Year 11