Welcome to Humanities
Welcome to Humanities at Kirk Hallam Community Academy
Humanities is about people: how people create the world they live in and how the world they live in makes them the people that they are. The Humanities Faculty incorporates the three subjects of History, Geography and Religious Studies at Key Stages 3 , 4 and 5. We focus on the students' whole learning experience, encouraging them to learn about issues and to examine their own values and attitudes as individuals in a post-industrial, global and interdependent society. We encourage our students to play an active, well-informed role in the community and prepare them for further and higher education and the world of work.
The three main subjects are taught as separate subjects by enthusiastic subject specialists. Having a Humanities Faculty allows us to share good practice across the subjects and draw on, and emphasise the cross curricular links that already exist. All three subjects are popular with Kirk Hallam Community Academy students and we have a wealth of extra-curricular activities and trips which take place throughout the year.
History
We are determined to make every student who walks into our classrooms love History. We aim to show every student the value, importance and relevance of past events and why a knowledge of the past is important to our future.
Our teachers are all passionate and skilled Historians with our own areas of expertise these have developed from our own wide range of study throughout our academic careers.
From year 7-13 our pupils will study a variety of different topics which reflect the depth of knowledge and expertise of the department. Topics pupils will cover during their time at Kirk Hallam range from the Norman conquest of England in year 7, the First and Second World Wars in year 8. At GCSE pupils are offered the AQA History course where they will study Health and the people, Norman England, Germany & the Cold War. At A-Level pupils will receive specialist teaching on topics such as the British Empire 1857-1965, Russia 1894-1941 & the later Tudor period.
Our philosophy on History is that it should:
- History should be exciting and interesting. We aim for our lessons to engage our pupils and to make them want to find out more about the topic.
- History should be relevant. It should teach students something about the world they live in and help them make sense of modern life as well as teaching them about past lives.
- History should teach skills. Students should leave us with not only a knowledge of the past but critical thinking skills, debating skills, the ability to weigh up arguments alongside the ability to spot bias and propaganda .
Here at Kirk Hallam, History is a popular choice at GCSE and A-Level reflecting how much our pupils enjoy our subject.
Staff-
Mr J Fairclough (Head of History)
Miss R Thornhill (Head of Year 10)
Mr B Hughes (Classroom teacher)
Countdown plan 2019-19
| Date: | Topics | Homework’s |
| September – October. | Germany democracy to dictatorship. Growth of democracy Germany and the Great depression Lessons including- Impact of WW1 on Germany Uprisings and the Golden years Wall Street Crash Who voted for the Nazis and why? | Revision for Health and the People quizzes Exam questions from Germany |
| November- December | Experiences of Germans under the Nazi regime Economic changes Social policies Control and resistance | Exam questions from Germany Norman’s quizzes. Battle of Hastings Project |
| January - February | Conflict and Tension: East and West 1945-72 Origins of the Cold War. What happened after WW2? The Iron Curtain. Events in China, Korea and Vietnam. | Battle of Hastings Project Germany quizzes |
| March | Development of the Cold War Military rivalries The Space race The Thaw The Berlin Wall | Exam questions on Cold War Germany quizzes |
| April | Transformation of the Cold War Cuban Missile Crisis The Prague Spring Easing Tensions Teaching of Battle of Hastings- Historic environment | Thematic Revision |
| May - June | Revision |
GEOGRAPHY
Y13 A level Geography COUNTDOWN
Welcome to Geography at Kirk Hallam Academy. Geography has traditionally been categorised as physical; the natural world, and human; man's influence on our world. The teachers at Kirk Hallam Academy investigate these areas with the students and extend the topics to ask how man interacts with the physical environment. The students will be shown how these interactions are changing both locally and across the world and perhaps most importantly how they are impacting us all.
The local geography around Kirk Hallam and Ilkeston is tackled through fieldwork completed in the town, further to this we explore Derbyshire in both GCSE and A-level courses. A-level sees us visit Nottingham, Whitby and Scarborough to work on both human and physical aspects of geography.
Currently a trip to either Italy or Iceland is offered to year 11 and year 13 students. Mount Vesuvius, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Amalfi and Sorrento are all visited on the trip to Italy. Iceland includes visiting glaciers, volcanic craters, geysers, spectacular waterfalls and the capital of Reykjavik.
At KS3
We introduce the world of geography to our students. We look at rivers in particular and some of the positives and negatives of the world we live in. In year 8 we investigate Africa and the challenges faced by selected countries. We examine our risky world and finally visit Antarctica for a landscape that is truly different. We introduce the concept of field work and start to ask ourselves the questions posed by our modern world.
KS4 (GCSE)
AQA GCSE Geography is a three year course starting in year 9. The curriculum is diverse and covers aspects of physical and human geography. Natural hazards, landscapes, the living world, environmental and urban challenges, resource management and geographical skills are all studied and tested. Students will also be examined on their ability to understand wider issues in the UK. Fieldwork is compulsory.
At KS5 (A-level)
AQA A-level Geography is a two year course and gives our students time to explore six topics in detail. The course asks us to look at hazards, the water and carbon cycles and coasts. Human topics are governance, population and how our world is changing. Fieldwork remains a major component of the course. Students will produce their own investigation which will count towards their final grade (20%) which gives them a chance to enquire about a local issue they are interested in.
Key dates: Fieldwork
GCSE/A-Level Castleton fieldwork 16th October 2018
GCSE/A-Level Burbage fieldwork 8th November 2018
Italy trip to the Bay of Naples, Italy, 10th February 2019
A-Level fieldwork Scarborough 26th January 2019
RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Staff: Miss J Cocker (Head of Religious Studies)
Miss K Briggs (Head of Year 7)
Mr R Milner (School Leader)
"There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy". Hamlet.
Our aim is to develop a curriculum across all year groups that encourages curiosity, enthusiasm and critical thinking skills, that allows students to explore a diversity of religious and philosophical thought. We allow students to debate ultimate questions, Is God real? Why does suffering exist? What is the purpose of life? Students will develop their own opinions to key issues within the world and evaluate different perspectives.
In a rapidly changing multi- ethnic society Religious Studies has never been more relevant than in today's world. Understanding the diversity of religious beliefs, and how those beliefs affect the meaning of peoples lives, allows us to understand the impact on individuals, culture and behaviour.
The Religious Studies department is determined to deliver specialist teaching, which we all have developed over the course of our academic careers. We pride ourselves on developing a classroom space where pupils feel confident voicing their opinions to controversial topics, and develop a passion for understanding the world in which we all must share.
Religious Studies is available throughout Y7-Y11, and is available at A-Level from Y12-13.
Our KS3-KS4 course of study will include:
Y7- World Religions, Christianity, Buddhism, Abraham and Moses, Sikhism and Hinduism.
Y8- Islam, Inspirational People, Introduction to Philosophy, Crime and Punishment and Judaism.
Y9- Y11- AQA GCSE Religious Studies covering-
Paper 1-
Christian Beliefs and Practices.
Islamic Beliefs and Practices.
Paper 2 (Students choose four topics from the six)-
Theme A-Relationships and Families.
Theme B- Religion and Life.
Theme C- The Existence of God and Revelation .
Theme D- Religion, Peace and Conflict.
Theme E- Religion, Crime and Punishment.
Theme F- Religion, Human Rights and Social Justice.
Mock examinations-
Monday 12th November- 1hr-Islamic Beliefs and Religion and Life
Key dates for 2019 examinations:
Monday 13th May- Paper 1 - 1hr 45 minutes
Monday 20th May- Paper 2- 1hr 45 minutes
KS5 Course of study will include:
A Level Religious Studies
The A Level Religious Studies course focuses on three main themes – philosophy, ethics and developments in Christian thought. Issues explored within philosophy include the theories of Greek philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle, issues of death and the afterlife and questions around the existence of God. Within ethics we explore relativist and absolutist ideas and study in detail the theories of Utilitarianism, Natural Law, Situation Ethics and Kantian Ethics. These ideas are applied to business ethics, issues of sexuality and issues such as euthanasia. The course then explores the development of Christian ideology including how the faith responds to issues such as multi-culturalism, gender and secularisation.
Students have the opportunity to explore the ideas of the world’s greatest thinkers and develop their own beliefs and ideas on a wide variety of issues.
In Year 13 students take three two hour papers in each of the three themes.
Examination Dates for 2019:
Tuesday 4th June 2019 am: Philosophy Paper
Tuesday 11th June 2019 am: Ethics Paper
Monday 17th June 2019 pm: Developments in Christian Thought
Related Downloads
@KHCAHistory
KHCAHistory retweeted:24th Mar 2020: Today in 1603 Elizabeth I died. The woman who ruled half an island who successfully defied a man who ruled half the world.
21st Mar 2020: Good luck to our fantastic year 11 and 13 students who left us yesterday. We will miss you all. Mr F- KHCAHistory retweeted:27th Feb 2020: Tonight in 1933 the Reichstag was ablaze.
KHCAHistory retweeted:15th Feb 2020: Well done Joey and Owen , you are amazing! https://t.co/Q381g3faX6 such a lovely thing to do. @KirkHallamCA- 15th Feb 2020: Both sessions will be in H2.
