Humanities

The Geography, History and RS are lead by a single ‘Head of Humanities’ although each subject is actually taught separately by graduate specialists.

Geography

This subject is lead by a Geography graduate and is taught by subject specialists from Years 5 onwards. There is no set text used in the department. Instead a range of study aids are employed, including books, maps, interactive and digital technology.

The Department benefits from a well-equipped specialist classroom which includes an electronic weather station and display. The department is situated adjacent to a purpose built ICT Suite and Havelock Library.

Our belief is that the aim of a geographical education should be to stimulate every child’s curiosity about the natural world, by introducing them to a range of people, places and environments. The school estate is used to good effect, and a highly developed programme of fieldwork and residential study helps to develop and consolidate concepts introduced in the classroom. Such expeditions are undertaken in accordance with the schools outdoor visits / risk assessment procedures and the safety of adults and children is paramount.

Topics of Study

 
History

This subject is lead by a History graduate and is taught by subject specialists from Years 5 onwards.

The department is very well equipped and a range of study aids are used including interactive and digital technology. The highly developed programme of fieldwork and residential study helps to develop and consolidate concepts introduced in the classroom. Such expeditions are undertaken in accordance with the schools outdoor visits / risk assessment procedures and the safety of adults and children is paramount.

The overall aim of the department is to foster an interest in, and understanding of, the past amongst pupils and by doing so to encourage the boys and girls to be questioning and critical, rigorous in their methods yet tolerant in their attitudes, and to foster an awareness of the moral issues raised by many of the topics studied. To develop, in other words, the knowledge, skills and sensitivity that will help them to be more effective citizens, using their appreciation of the past to aid their comprehension of the present and future.

Topics of Study

Religious Studies

This subject is taught by graduate qualified teachers throughout the preparatory school. The aims of the Religious Studies department are:

1. To foster an interest in, and understanding of, R.S. amongst pupils through, yet also beyond, any particular schemes of work.
2. To enable all pupils to fulfil their potential in the subject, allowing them to pursue their study of R.S. to whatever levels their interest and aptitude allow.
3. To uphold academic excellence as a valuable, attainable and self-justifying goal.
4. To help pupils to be aware not only of the development of their own country’s religious traditions, and that from a variety of perspectives, but also those of other nations.
5. To help pupils develop a wide range of academic skills.
6. To seek to develop cross-curricular themes, where time and resources allow.
7. To encourage pupils to be questioning and critical, rigorous in their methods yet tolerant in their attitudes, and to foster an awareness of the moral issues raised by many of the topics studied. To develop, in other words, the kind of knowledge, skills and sensitivity that will help them to be more effective citizens.
8. To maintain a thoroughly professional approach to the teaching of R.S. as being the most effective way of trying to fulfil the above aims.

Topics of study