Intent: 

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“Seeing the World is a prerequisite to understanding one’s place within it” Josh Gates 

Humanities at the Orchard Centre offers students the opportunity to study a wide and diverse range of geographical, historical and ethical topics. We aim to provide a thought-provoking curriculum which awakens curiosity, challenges perceptions and ignites a love for learning. Our curriculum offer focuses on key skills and a variety of engaging topics across all three Humanities subjects. Learning is linked to appropriate qualifications, ensuring that all students can participate, engage and achieve. 

 

Implementation: 

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In order to provide a high quality, exciting curriculum, Humanities is taught as a combined subject within Project Based Learning. Learners will investigate aspects of History, Geography and Religious Education relating to the theme being studied, enabling them to explore their own areas of interest and see the relevance of what they are learning. Humanities lessons are delivered through a variety of teaching styles and activities, and learners are encouraged to engage with and produce work in a format most suitable to them whenever possible. Key skills are introduced early and revisited frequently to ensure progression can be monitored and learners have the opportunities they need to build on and achieve mastery of skills. 

 

Impact: 

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Within Humanities lessons, we aim to foster curiosity, resilience and a love of learning. Problem solving and investigative opportunities encourage learners to build up their own skills and knowledge while maintaining a positive attitude to challenge, failure and recovery. The impact of our work is measured in a number of ways: 

• Formative assessment of work in books 

• Images and videos of young people’s practical work 

• Summative assessment of learners’ final project piece 

• Formal feedback and target setting discussions between learners and teachers 

• Informal whole class discussions about learning 

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Curriculum

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Humanities at The Orchard Centre is taught via a combined curriculum which aims to give all young people the opportunity to look at some of the social, cultural and religious issues which we face both today and in the past. We explore topics through a thematic approach using a range of different learning styles and tools. Students are encouraged to look analytically and critically at issues from different viewpoints, covering each theme through History, Geography and Religious Education. 

 

The acquisition and enhancement of skills is prioritised throughout each theme, ensuring that all young people have the ability to access History, Geography and RE lessons on any topic. Throughout the course, students will learn to: 

• Use, analyse and evaluate sources 

• Understand, explain and compare different interpretations of events 

• Identify and analyse cause and consequence 

• Recognise, describe and explain geographical patterns 

• Develop and conduct geographical enquiries 

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of religious beliefs and practices and the impact these have on believers’ lives 

• Express and argue for their own opinions and beliefs 

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