Curriculum Map - HumanitiesYear 7
In Year 7, the History topics centre around the theme of invasion. Students begin by studying the Norman Invasion of 1066, the battles that culminated in Norman victory and the aftermath faced by the Anglo-Saxon population. In Spring, students learn about the culture of Medieval Society, covering the importance of religion, how bodies were understood and medicines administered, to the motivations and consequences of the Peasants Revolt of 1381. Students finish History studying The Crusades, the motivations which started years of bloodshed and the fightback of the Islamic world. Throughout the year, students are introduced to the ‘Meanwhile, Elsewhere’ lesson series, which provides students with the opportunity to explore a niche area of the past, happening simultaneously with their current topic of study. Examples of Year 7 ‘Meanwhile, Elsewhere’ lessons include: The Benin Kingdom, Homosexuality in Medieval Society and The Song Dynasty.
In Year 7 Geography, students cover topics which explore a range of different environments around the world. In the Autumn Term students begin their geographical studies with ‘Mapping the Coast’, where they are introduced to key skills, such as working out compass directions, following grid references and understanding how to interpret the relief of land. Alongside these skills, students learn the coastal processes of erosion, how landforms are created and how human intervention can help protect coastal areas. In Spring, students delve into The Middle East, covering its physical landscape, climate, flora and fauna, as well as topics such as the Qatar World Cup, the water crisis and the effects of tourism on Dubai. To finish the year, students explore The Polar Regions, discovering the climate, adaptations of plants and animals, indigenous tribes and the effects of climate change.
Why?
The History topics studied in Year 7 give students a solid understanding of the development of Church, state and society from 1066 onwards. This ensures key concepts such as chronology are well embedded and key historical terminology is being introduced and practiced. Students are introduced to historiography and the methodology behind constructing strong arguments with the use of contemporary sources. The historical concepts of cause and consequence are explored in the context of these topics as they provide a clear backdrop for demonstrating the reasoning behind actions of the past and their consequences, for example the battles of 1066.
The Geography topics studied in Year 7 introduce students to the basic skills necessary for the study of Geography, equipping them with the ability to interpret a range of sources of geographical information including maps and diagrams. Students develop contextual knowledge of places of global significance such as the Middle East and polar regions, highlighting how human and physical processes interact to influence and change landscapes, as well as understanding the impact of human activity in these places.
Year 8
In Year 8, the History topics explore the theme of revolution. Firstly the topic, The Rise of the Tudors, covers the tumultuous religious reformation experienced in England throughout the reigns of Henry VIII through to Elizabeth I. Students explore the cause and effect of the religious changes in early modern England as well as focusing on the historical interpretations of individual Tudor monarchs. In Spring, students are introduced to the complexities of The British Civil War and Glorious Revolution, exploring the relationship between King Charles I and his parliament and the long lasting and far reaching effects of civil war on English society. When studying the Glorious Revolution, the history of relations between England, Scotland and Ireland are investigated in light of current political settlements. The final topic of the year, Trans-Atlantic Trade and the Industrial Revolution, explores the history of ancient African civilizations and the emergence of the Slave Trade. The concept of black identity and culture is discussed in light of movements such as Black Lives Matter. Students continue the ‘Meanwhile, Elsewhere’ lesson series which focuses on the early modern period. Examples of Year 8 ‘Meanwhile, Elsewhere’ lessons include: Black Tudors, LGBT+ Royal Histories and Catherine the Great of Russia.
In Year 8 Geography, students cover topics which provide them with an opportunity to understand how humans interact with and are affected by the world around them. In Autumn, students explore Natural Resources Around the World, to understand where substances like uranium, coal and oil are found in the world. The dangers of mining these resources, as well as the political and social impact, are examined through issues such as blood diamonds and conflict minerals. In Spring, students delve into the politics of Geography in Global Superpowers, evaluating what it means for a country to be a superpower and how countries are managed and held accountable by IGOs like the United Nations. This topic gives students the opportunity to reflect on how they interact with their world through investigations into the consequences of fast fashion, workshops and land exploitation. The final Geography topic of the year is ‘Natural Hazards’, in which students learn about the restless earth, plate tectonics and the cause and effects of earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis and avalanches. Through case studies, students analyse the impact natural disasters have on global communities and the different challenges faced by HICs and LICs in the aftermath of such events.
Why?
The History topics studied in Year 8 build on the social and cultural history learnt in Year 7, with a focus on how to use different types of historical sources, as well as introducing the concepts of source reliability and utility. The theme of revolution, linking all topics, allows for students to make connections, draw contrasts and analyse trends within the early modern period. The choice of these topics also encourages independent thought, enabling students to challenge interpretations of the past and formulate their own judgement with the use of contemporary sources.
The Geography topics studied in Year 8 will consolidate and extend students’ locational knowledge of the world’s continents and their physical features through the exploration of continental-specific resources. Physical geography is explored through detailed case studies of natural processes which demonstrate how landscapes change over time. Human geography is explored in the concept of conflict relating to land, resources and human rights. Students will build on their Year 7 skillset, developing greater competence in analysing and interpreting different data sources such as proportional and choropleth maps.
Year 9 History
The Year 9 curriculum centres around the theme of protest. Students study six key events in the 20th Century which changed the world: World War One, World War Two, The Holocaust, The Suffragette Movement, Indian Independence and the Civil Rights Movement in the USA. The study of the World Wars introduces students to the political upheaval and economic strains of the early 20th Century. Students will explore how warfare developed during these times and the resulting tensions in international politics. The study of the Holocaust will serve as an important opportunity for our students to learn about the dangers of hatred and discrimination and how it can help us stand up to intolerance and prejudice in today’s world. The topics on Suffragettes and Indian Independence will engage students in the debate of tactics vs terrorism, whilst the Civil Rights Movement will have students study a range of protest methods, the consequences of them, as well as the overall success of such methods.
Why?
The History topics studied at Year 9 enable students to understand the significant aspects of the history of the wider world and how the actions of a few can have profound impacts on communities across the globe. Students’ understanding of the reliability and utility of sources will become more nuanced as they learn how different types of sources are used and why certain sources are used to construct interpretations of past events. Students will continue to develop their written skills, forming historically valid questions and using historical terms in increasingly sophisticated ways.
Year 9 Geography
The Year 9 Geography curriculum covers four topics. The first of these, Population and Migration’, investigates the issues around population growth as we reach 8 billion people and likely head towards 12 billion by the end of the century. Yet in some countries the population has started to decline, creating contrasting issues. The movement of people across regions and borders is rarely out of the news and we endeavour to give a balanced and humane angle to this.
The topic Water on the Land looks at a section of the water cycle, including rivers and drainage basins. The UK is the main focus, but further complexity is built through giving students an understanding of the effects of climate change and the global factors when looking at extreme events such as flooding and drought.
The third topic is Africa – The Misunderstood Continent?. Africa is the last main continent to move through the phases of industrialisation, urbanisation and development, yet often the continent is overlooked in the study of Geography, or worse, dismissed. We will focus on its opportunities and successes in recent decades, as well as studying the current issues across a range of countries.
The last topic brings the subject back to the local scale, as we investigate the school’s surrounding area and develop how to collect, present and analyse data from mini field trips in order to be able to answer investigation questions such as Should Enfield allow housing on the Green Belt? or Does Enfield Have an Identifiable Urban Microclimate?
Why?
The Year 9 Geography curriculum has been carefully designed to ensure students have a solid grounding and are well informed of key current issues. Once understanding is built, they are able to apply and communicate their understanding of these topics, as well as make links with new, related learning. The topics cover a range of scales, from the local to the global and include building students’ understanding of the main elements of the field of Geography (Physical, Human and Environmental). The first three topics specifically draw links with previous units and key ideas to build synopticity in the students’ knowledge, whilst also serving to aid knowledge recall. The Year 9 Geography curriculum aims to equip students with a broad understanding of their immediate environment, as well as contexts further afield, giving them a solid grounding as they complete their Key Stage 3 Humanities studies.