Welcome to the Humanities faculty at The Holy Family Catholic School
“Only the lesson which is enjoyed can be learned well”
Welcome to the Humanities Faculty at Holy Family Catholic School. Humanities is made up of 3 subjects in the school: History, Geography and Travel & Tourism.
The aims of the faculty
The Humanities Faculty aims to promote and stimulate an interest in the human and physical world around us. The curriculum we offer encourages students to have open and enquiring minds; develop an understanding of our own multi-cultural society; plus explore others cultures, past and present.
To achieve these aims, both History and Geography offer a broad curriculum at Key Stage 3, which encourages, enthuses and challenges all students irrespective of their ability. The Faculty has developed varied learning strategies to support students and has a series of successful fieldtrips throughout the year.
Why Study History?
Why Study Geography?
Geography is an exciting subject in schools because it allows us to explore the world….not only its physical features, like mountains and glaciers; but also about the people who live there. The choices they make and how that has an impact on the world and other people in it. Read any newspaper today, watch the news at any point and many of the stories will have a geographical edge to them. If we do not understand how the world works, how can we live in it?
"The study of geography stimulates an interest in and a sense of wonder about places. It helps young people make sense of a complex and dynamically changing world. It explains where places are, how places and landscapes are formed, how people and their environment interact, and how a diverse range of economies, societies and environments are interconnected. It builds on pupils’ own experiences to investigate places at all scales, from the personal to the global. Geographical enquiry encourages questioning, investigation and critical thinking about issues affecting the world and people’s lives, now and in the future.
Geography inspires pupils to become global citizens by exploring their own place in the world, their values and their responsibilities to other people, to the environment and to the sustainability of the planet".
From: Geography Key Stage 3 Programme of Study 2008
Or as Michael Palin puts it……..
‘….suddenly it becomes more than a subject. Geography becomes the knowledge. The knowledge of the planet, how everything works and how it is all inter-connected. It becomes what geography has always been for me – a fusion of the power of the imagination and the hard truths of science.
Geography is all about the living, breathing essence of the world we live in. It explains the past, illuminates the present and prepares us for the future. What could be more important than that?’
Why Study Travel & Tourism?
Travel & Tourism is offered at Holy Family in Year 9 and at KS4 (plus Springboard in Sixth Form). It is a more vocational subject and offers students an introduction to the world of work, especially dealing with businesses working in the travel industry. The course gives students the practical skills to then move on into a job in tourism.
Schemes followed at Key Stage 3 and 4
If you follow the links below, there is a summary of the work undertaken at both Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4.
Key stage 3 geography Schemes
Key Stage 3 History schemes
Key stage 4 Geography schemes
Key stage 4 History schemes
Securing Success
In History and Geography, students will be challenged to do the best they can; and develop their enquiring and decision making skills. To ensure progression for all students, assessments will be undertaken regularly and the results of this used to identify targets and intervention for all students.
Parental Support
There are a number of things that you can do to help your child succeed in their studies. These include:
• Encourage them to watch the news and read the newspapers. This will keep them up to date with current events and develop their comprehension and discussion skills.
• Watch out for Historical and Geographical documentaries on the television, which will help them explore some of the issues in Humanities.
• Make sure you are aware of special events and projects by logging onto the SIMS Learning Gateway.
• Take an interest in the homework they need to do for History and Geography.