Ashfield School

Humanities

The Humanities Faculty consists of Ethics & Philosophy (EP), Geography and History. The three subjects aim to provide our learners with an understanding of the world they live in both locally and globally; how it has been shaped and the important issues facing us as we look to the future. We believe the subjects play a vital role in promoting good citizenship whilst also preparing learners for well-respected GCSE and A Level qualifications.

Each of the three subjects has two timetabled lessons across the two week timetable. Topics in EP include a variety of world religions but also key moral dilemmas. At all points, students are encouraged to voice their own opinions and learn to be respectful of those of others. In Geography, theme-based topics like Earthquakes and Volcanoes are mixed with real world location studies. In History, students study a range of time periods and important key events that still resonate in the modern world such as: World War II and the Holocaust. Topic s cover a mix of local, British and world history.

Learners’ progress is assessed regularly in a variety of ways to equip them for the challenges of GCSE ahead.

For further information about what is taught in KS3 please read the KS3 course descriptors.

Humanities subjects are very popular at KS4 with most students choosing to study at least one of Ethics & Philosophy, Geography and History.

Links to the specifications followed are provided below:

Ethics & Philosophy

In Ethics & Philosophy, learners follow the AQA Full Course Specification sitting 2 exam papers at the end. The Philosophy aspects of the course are taught through the beliefs of Christianity and Judaism.

Ethics & Philosophy

Geography

Learners follow the AQA specification in Geography which explores the ways in which our planet is changing physically and the future pressures being placed upon it by human actions. Assessment consists of 3 exams.

Geography

History

Learners follow the Edexcel Full Course Specification with combination code F5. This includes Units on Medicine in Britain; The American West; Early Elizabethan England and a study of Germany 1919-1939. Students are required to sit 3 exams.

History

Geography and History are very popular subject choices at KS5. Ethics & Philosophy is not currently offered at KS5.

Geography

Learners currently follow the Edexcel Specification in Year 12 and 13. All students sign up for a full A Level and a 2 year programme of study. An AS Level is not currently offered. Field work is an essential part of the exam specification and a residential trip to Dorset is organised in the early part of Year 12 and a further trip in the summer to gather data for the Independent Investigation (coursework). Assessment is by 3 exam papers and a 20% coursework component.

Geography

History

Currently all students are entered for an AS qualification at the end of Year 12 which involves 2 exams. Successful students continue to study a full A Level in Year 13 which supersedes any AS qualification they may have received. This involves 3 exams and a 20% coursework component on the Cold War.

Students study the Edexcel specification following the Route H option: Democracies in change - Britain and the USA in the twentieth century. The A Level additional unit is The British Experience of Warfare.

History