Humanities Faculty

Humanities is one of the largest and most popular faculties at Sponne, with specialist staff teaching a diverse range of subjects related to the world and people around us. Humanities subjects include History, Geography, Religious Studies, PSHE, Sociology, Psychology, Children's Play, Learning and Development and Travel and Tourism.

Humanities can be described as the study of the many ways in which people, from every period of history and from every corner of the globe, process and document the human experience. Since humans have been able, we have used philosophy, literature, religion, art, music, history and language to understand and record our world. These modes of expression have become the Humanities subjects we teach today. Knowledge of these records of human experience gives us the opportunity to feel a sense of connection to those who have come before us, as well as to our contemporaries.

Humanities students are attractive to many future employers because of their personal transferable skills. Many of the skills that are gained during Humanities lessons are highly sought after in almost every job. In Humanities lessons, students will gain experience of summarising, arguing and debating issues as well as presenting their work in a variety of ways.

The Humanities faculty at Sponne develops independent, enquiring, confident minds, well-prepared to meet any future challenge head-on.

The Social Sciences is part of the Humanities faculty and includes four subjects: Sociology, Psychology, Health & Social Care and Children’s Play, Learning & Development (CPLD). The Social Sciences is a popular set of subjects at Sponne School.
At KS4, students are able to choose GCSE Psychology or Children’s Play, Learning and Development. At KS5, A level Psychology and Sociology are available as options.

Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour. Most students opt to study Psychology at GCSE and A Level.

GCSE Psychology (Years 9, 10 and 11)

GCSE Psychology Exam Board: AQA

GCSE Psychology introduces students to the fundamentals of psychology, developing critical analysis, independent thinking and research skills. At GCSE, students study:

Year 9 topics:

• Research Methods
• Memory
• Language, thought and communication

Year 10 topics:

• Perception
• Development
• Social Influence

Year 11 topics:

• Brain and neuropsychology
• Psychological problems

There are two final exam papers for GCSE Psychology:

Paper 1: Cognition and Behaviour (Memory, Perception, Development and Research methods) Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes 100 marks 50% of GCSE

Paper 2: Social Context and Behaviour (Social influence, Language, thought and communication, Brain and neuropsychology and Psychological problems) Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes 100 marks 50% of GCSE

A Level Psychology (Year 12 and 13)

A Level Psychology Exam Board: AQA

Students develop their knowledge and understanding at A level and develop skills valued by Higher Education (HE) and employers, including critical analysis, independent thinking and research. At A Level, students study:

Year 12 topics:

• Approaches
• Research Methods
• Social Influence
• Memory
• Attachment
• Psychopathology

Year 13 topics:

• Research Methods
• Issues and Debates
• Biopsychology
• Relationships
• Eating behaviour
• Forensic Psychology

There are three final exam papers for A Level Psychology:

Paper 1: Introductory topics in Psychology (Social Influence, Memory, Attachment, Psychopathology) Written exam: 2 hours 96 marks

Paper 2: Psychology in Context (Approaches, Biopsychology and Research Methods) Written exam: 2 hours 96 marks

Paper 3: Issues and Options in Psychology (Issues and Debates, Relationships, Stress and Forensic Psychology) Written exam: 2 hours 96 marks

Sociology

A Level Sociology (Year 12 and 13)

Sociology is the study of society, human social relationships and institutions. Most students opt to study Sociology at A Level.

A Level Sociology Exam Board: AQA

A Level Sociology offers students an engaging and effective introduction to Sociology. Students will learn the fundamentals of the subject and develop skills valued by higher education (HE) and employers, including critical analysis, independent thinking and research. At A Level, students study:

Year 12 topics:

• Families and Households
• Education with Methods in Context

Year 13 topics:

• Beliefs in society
• Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods

There are three final exam papers:

Paper 1: Education with Methods in Context Written exam: 2 hours 80 marks

Paper 2: Topics in Sociology Written exam: 2 hours 80 marks

Paper 3: Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods Written exam: 2 hours 80 marks

Children’s Play, Learning and Development (CPLD)

BTEC Level 1/2 Award in Children’s Play, Learning and Development (Year 9, 10 and 11)

Exam board: Pearson

CPLD is suitable for students who are interested in or considering a career in early years, or related sectors where knowledge of child development is relevant.
Students study the following topics:

Year 9

• Unit 3: The Principles of Early Years Practice Coursework Four assignments

Year 10

• Unit 1: Patterns of Child Development Written Exam: 1 hour 50 marks

Year 11

• Unit 2: Promoting Children’s Development through Play Coursework Three assignments

Revision Resources
GCSE revision: https://learndojo.org/gcse/
A-level revision: https://learndojo.org/a-level/

Geography is a popular subject at Sponne, which covers a broad curriculum, enabling students to engage with, explore their place within, challenge perceptions of and develop a passion for the built and natural environment. Knowledge of different processes and concepts are contextualised with studies of places and landscapes from across the world. The vast range of skills that are used to communicate in Geography are well sought after by employers, and with the collection and use of spatial data on the rise, these skills will continue to be in demand. Teaching methods are equally as broad in the department, and are enriched by a wealth of digital resources as well as of out-of-classroom learning experiences from our locality and fieldwork trips for both GCSE and A Level courses.

Key Stage 3

Our Key Stage 3 curriculum draws explicitly on the knowledge, skills and experiences developed during Key Stage 1 and 2, and provides greater emphasis on Geography as a unique discipline, whilst building passion for the subject by discovering international locations and physical phenomena in more detail. Fieldwork and Enquiry Skills are built on-site with an investigation in each year. Students are taught in their mixed ability form groups through Year 7 and 8, three times a fortnight.

In Year 7, students study the following topics:

What is Geography?

• Brazil
• Glaciation
• China
• Weather & Climate

In Year 8, students study the following topics:

• India
• Changing Places
• Tectonics
• Africa
• Middle East

More detail of the key Knowledge, Skills and Concepts covered in each topic is found on our Learning Journey.

Key Stage 4

Our Key Stage 4 teaching delivers the AQA GCSE Geography specification. Students work through a variety of topics, delivering a balance between Physical and Human Geography, as well as building skills in applying geographical knowledge and skills.

Paper 1 is entitled ‘Living with the Physical Environment’ and is assessed in a 1hr 30min exam, worth 88 marks and 35% of the overall grade. The content covered includes:

• 1A: The Challenge of Natural Hazards
• 1B: The Living World
• 1C: Physical Landscapes in the UK

Paper 2 is entitled ‘Challenges in the Human Environment’ and is assessed in a 1hr 30min exam, worth 88 marks and 35% of the overall grade. The content covered includes:

• 2A: Urban Issues and Challenges
• 2B: The Changing Economic World
• 2C: The Challenge of Resource Management

Paper 3 is entitled ‘Geographical Applications’ and is assessed in a 1hr 30min exam, worth 76 marks and 30% of the overall grade. The content covered includes:

• 3A: Issue Evaluation
• 3B: Unfamiliar Fieldwork
• 3B: Familiar Fieldwork

More detail of the specific Knowledge, Skills and Concepts covered in each topic is found on our Learning Journey.

Key Stage 5

Our Key Stage 5 teaching delivers the AQA A Level Geography specification. Students dive deeper into a variety of topics, delivering a balance between Physical and Human Geography to be examined on, as well as continuing to build their Geographical Skills through the production of a piece of Non-Examined Assessment, which students tackle independently. The primary fieldwork experience is a 4-day residential to the Lake District, and is supplemented with other experiences.

Paper 1 is entitled ‘Physical Geography’ and is assessed in a 2hr 30min exam, worth 120 marks and 40% of the overall grade. The content covered includes:

• 1A: Water and Carbon Cycles
• 1B: Coastal Systems and Landscapes
• 1C: Hazards

Paper 2 is entitled ‘Human Geography’ and is assessed in a 2hr 30min exam, worth 120 marks and 40% of the overall grade. The content covered includes:

• 2A: Global Systems and Global Governance
• 2B: Changing Places
• 2C: Contemporary Urban Environments

The third component is a Non-Examined Assessment worth 20% of the final grade. This is a 3-4,000 word coursework report in the form of an Independent Investigation. Students have to plan and carry out their own investigation, then display and analyse their data, before concluding and evaluating their work. This provides the ultimate opportunity for students to prove themselves as Independent Geographers, and practice skills that are essential to higher education and Post-18 options.

More detail of the specific Knowledge, Skills and Concepts covered in each topic is found on our Learning Journey.

Personal, Social, Health, Education (PSHE) is part of the Humanities Faculty and is taught to all students, in mixed ability groups, once a fortnight. PSHE lessons are taught mainly by PSHE specialists supported by other members of the Humanities faculty. The Tutorial Programme delivered by tutors also supports the delivery of the PSHE curriculum. The PSHE curriculum includes Careers and Financial Education and delivery is supported by external providers, organisations such as the School Nurse Team and local employers.

The content of the curriculum is designed to support students in their personal development and to reflect what it is like growing up in modern Britain and the curriculum meets the Statutory Requirements for ‘Relationships education, relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education’. It also supports the school’s commitment to SMSC, British Values and Wellbeing and therefore is reviewed regularly to ensure it meets the needs of the students. We aim to engage and inspire our students to be passionate about the world in which they live and inquisitive about their place within it. 

Students learn to be effective problem-solvers and risk-managers and are encouraged to question, think, and reflect, not to pre-judge; to be confident in their opinions and not to be afraid to have their opinion challenged by others.

More details about Careers can be found here

The current Programme of Study for PSHE (2024/25) is as follows:

PSHE Lessons

Year 7 

• Unit 1 Relationships Sex Education - Building healthy relationships, including anti-bullying
• Unit 2 RSE/Health Education - Growing up - puberty, personal hygiene & sleep
• Unit 3 Health/Drugs Education - Impact of Nicotine (vaping & smoking)
• Unit 4 Careers Education - Our Values & Careers

Year 8

• Unit 1 Drugs Education - Inhalants & Edibles
• Unit 2 Careers Education - Making Choices
• Unit 3 Relationships Sex Education - Romantic Relationships
• Unit 4 Health Education - Healthy Lifestyles

Year 9

• Unit 1a Citizenship Education - Gang Life
• Unit 2a Relationships Sex Education- Real Love Rocks
• Unit 3a Drug Education - Alcohol awareness
• Unit 1b Internet Safety & Harms - Cyber Security
• Unit 2b Careers Education - Finding my path
• Unit 3b Relationships Sex Education - Dealing with conflict
• Unit 4b Health Education - CPR & Defibrillators
• Unit 5b Relationships Sex Education - Marriage and Long Term Relationships
• Unit 6b Health Education - Mental Health Awareness

Year 10

• Unit 1a Relationships Sex Education - Healthy Sexual life
• Unit 1b Careers Education - Personal Career Development
• Unit 2a Drug Education - Understanding Drugs & the Law
• Unit 2b Internet Safety & Harms/Financial Education - Being a Savvy Consumer
• Unit 3 Health Education - Understanding mental health

Year 11

• Unit 1 Careers Education - Next Steps
• Unit 2 Relationships Sex Education - Reproductive Health
• Unit 3 Relationships Sex Education - Relationship Issues
• Unit 4 Drug/Health Education - Alcohol & Mental Health

Year 12

• Unit 1 Citizenship Education - Being a Safe Driver
• Unit 2 Careers Education - Planning for the Future
• Unit 3 Relationships Sex Education - Healthy Relationships

Year 13

• Unit 1 Financial Education - Finance for Life
• Unit 2 Citizenship Education - Terrorism & Extremism 
• Unit 3 Citizenship Education - the Importance of Voting or independence & safety in adulthood
• Unit 4 Drug/Health Education - Health & Wellbeing

Tutorial Programme

Year 7

• Unit 1 Relationships Sex Education - How to be successful
• Unit 2 Internet Safety & Harms - the basics
• Unit 3 Careers Education - Introduction to Unifrog
• Unit 4 Relationships Sex Education - How to be successful
• Unit 5 Relationships Sex Education - Respecting Differences
• Unit 6 Health Education - Basic First Aid & Prevention of Infection

Year 8

• Unit 1 Health Education - Responsible Health
• Unit 2 RSE/Health Education - Belonging/Community Cohesion
• Unit 3 Health Education - Body Image
• Unit 4 Careers Education - Exploring Possibilities
• Unit 5 Relationships Sex Education - BBFC Choosing what to watch
• Unit 6 Health Education - Personal safety
• Unit 7 Relationships Sex Education - Families
• Unit 8 Internet Safety & Harms/Financial Education - Fraud Awareness

Year 9

• Unit 1 Study Skills
• Unit 2 Citizenship Education - British Politics

Year 10

• Unit 1 Internet Safety & Harms - Your Rights to Your Information
• Unit 2 Careers Education - Preparing for Work Experience
• Unit 3 Health Education - Blood & Organ Donation
• Unit 4 Citizenship Education - Tackling racism
• Unit 5 Citizenship/ Internet Safety and Harms - Online radicalisation
• Unit 6 Careers Education - Health & Safety at work

Year 11

• Unit 1 Careers Education - Preparing for Change
• Unit 2 Study skills/Revision Techniques
• Unit 3 Relationships Sex Education - Parenting
• Unit 4 Health Education - Mental Health Awareness
• Unit 5 Study Skills/Revision techniques

Year 12

• Unit 1: Study Skills
• Unit 2: Health Education - Life Skills
• Unit 3: Revision Skills

Year 13

• Unit 1: Careers Education - Planning for UCAS
• Unit 2: Health Education - Wellbeing
• Unit 3: Citizenship/Financial Education - Real Life

The PSHE curriculum aims to develop students understanding of these values:

Religious Education

In Religious Education (RE), pupils enter into a rich discourse about the religious and non-religious traditions that have shaped Great Britain and the world. RE at Sponne enables pupils to take their place within a diverse multi-religious and multi-secular society. RE is intellectually challenging and personally enriching. It affords pupils both the opportunity to see the religion and non-religion in the world, and the opportunity to make sense of their own place in that world. At Sponne, we follow the Northamptonshire Locally Agreed Syllabus and pupils enjoy learning about different cultures and beliefs.
In RE we aim to develop three types of knowledge

• Firstly, ‘substantive’ knowledge: knowledge about various religious and non-religious traditions.
• Secondly, ‘ways of knowing’: pupils learn ‘how to know’ about religion and non-religion.
• Thirdly, ‘personal knowledge’: pupils build an awareness of their own presuppositions and values about the religious and non-religious traditions they study.

Religious Education is part of the Humanities Faculty and Core RE is taught to all students in Key stages 3, 4 and 5. All pupils in key stage three will participate in one lesson a week, followed by one lesson a fortnight in key stage 4 and key stage 5 students have a dedicated RE session as part of their tutor programme.

Religious Studies GCSE is also taught as an option subject and A Level Philosophy is available for 6th form students to study.
The RE department also offers an extra curricular opportunity for years 8 and 9 in the form of a Philosophy Club. This is a popular group where students discuss key philosophical ideas and express their views towards them.

Core RE is a compulsory subject at Sponne which aims to enable students to become global citizens. However, parents/guardians do have the right to withdraw their child from Religious Education.

The current programme of study for Religious Education is as follows:

(Core RE) Key Stage 3

Year 7

• Unit 1 Christianity
• Unit 2 Judaism
• Uni2 3 Hinduism

Year 8

• Unit 1 Philosophy
• Unit 2 Islam
• Unit 3 Buddhism

(Core RE) Key Stage 4

Year 9 (Core RE)

• Unit 1 Sikhism
• Unit 2 Animal ethics
• Unit 3 Crime and punishment

Year 10 (Core RE)

• Unit 1 Abortion
• Unit 2 Peace and conflict
• Unit 3 Humanism

Year 11 (Core RE)

• Unit 1 An introduction to ethics
• Unit 2 An introduction to epistemology

• (Core RE) Key Stage 5

Year 12

Pupils will be encouraged to debate and form their own opinions on a range of different beliefs, traditions and philosophical questions.

Year 13

Pupils will gain further understanding of the six principle religions. This will enable them to understand a wide range of viewpoints and traditions. Respect, inclusion and empathy will be key features of this topic. These skills will empower all students to flourish in their future endeavours, as they will be able to confidently and respectfully engage with others.

GCSE RS Years 9,10 and 11

GCSE Religious Studies Exam board: AQA

This exam consists of two papers which are examined at the end of year 11. Each paper is worth 50% of their final grade and they are each 1 hour 45 min long.

Paper 1 will focus on Christian beliefs and practices followed by Islamic beliefs and practices.

Paper 2 will consist of questions about 4 different themes. Students will apply what they have learnt about Christian and Islamic beliefs and practices to theological and moral issues. We will focus on the following four themes:

• Religion and life

• Relationships and families

• The existence of God and revelation

• Crime and punishment

A Level Philosophy (Years 12 and 13)

A Level History Exam board: AQA

Paper 1: Epistemology and moral philosophy

This paper consists of two sections: epistemology and moral philosophy. During their studies pupils will learn about the following topics:

• What is Knowledge?

• Perception

• Reason

• Limits of Knowledge

• Utilitarianism

• Kantian Deontology

• Aristotelian Virtue Ethics

• Meta-Ethics

The exam is 3 hours long and is worth 50% of their final grade.

Paper 2: The metaphysics of God and the metaphysics of the mind

This paper focuses on the themes of the metaphysics of God and metaphysics of the mind. During their studies pupils will learn about the following topics:

• The Concept of God

• Arguments relating to the Existence of God

• Religious Language

• What do we mean by ‘mind’?

• Dualist Theories

• Physicalist Theories

• The exam is 3 hours and is worth 50% of their final grade

At Sponne all students study History in Years 7 and 8. History is a very popular option subject and most students currently opt to study GCSE History with many continuing to A Level. History gives students the opportunity to discover and debate a range of interesting topics from the history of Britain, Europe and the wider world. The study of History encourages students to ask questions of the world and to analyse and evaluate evidence from the past.

Key Stage 3 History (Year 7 and Year 8) 

Year 7 Topics: Medieval Britain 1066-1485, The Tudors 1485-1603, The Stuarts 1603-1715

Year 8 topics: Changes in Britain 1750-1900, Slavery to Civil Rights, The First World War. The Second World War and beyond

Some of the issues we will explore include:

• Why were castles built?
• What were the consequences of the Black Death?
• Why did Henry VIII break away from the Catholic Church?
• Why was Charles I executed?
• Was Oliver Cromwell a hero or a villain?
• What was life like in a cotton mill?
• What was the Atlantic Slave Trade?
• What was the US Civil Rights movement?
• What caused the First World War?
• What was life like in the trenches?
• Why did the Nazis come to power in Germany?
• What was life like in Britain during the Second World War?
• Was America right to drop atomic bombs on Japan?