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, PHSE, Sociology, Psychology, Children's Play, Learning and Development and Health and Social Care.

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:

• Social Influence
• Memory
• Research Methods

Year 10 topics:

• Perception
• Development
• Language, thought and communication

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
• Stress
• 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:

• The Media
• 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

Health and Social Care

BTEC Level 3 Health and Social Care (Year 12 and 13)

Health and Social Care offers students a broad basis of study for students who are interested in a career in the health or social care sector.

BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate in Health & Social Care Exam Board: Pearson

Over the two years, students study the following topics:

Year 12 topics:

• Unit 1: Human Lifespan Development Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes 90 marks
• Unit 12: Supporting Individuals with Additional Needs Internal assessment: Coursework

Year 13 topics:

• Unit 2: Working in Health and Social Care Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes 80 marks
• Unit 5: Meeting Individual Care and Support Needs Internal assessment: Coursework

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 our unique window on the world, developing a sense of awe and wonder in students that few other subjects can match.

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 is enriched by a wealth of digital resources as well as of out-of-classroom learning experiences from our locality to residential fieldwork trips for both GCSE and A Level courses. Geography is exclusively taught by four specialist teachers across four teaching rooms.

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 Threshold 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. Fieldwork experiences across the course culminate in a residential trip in Year 11 to Dorset.

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 15min 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 Threshold 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 short experiences as well as external conferences and talks.

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: Glacial 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 composed by one 3-4,000 word coursework report in the form of an Independent Investigation. Students have to plan their own investigation, that they can then carry out, collecting primary data, then displaying and analysing 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 Threshold 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 (2023/24) 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 - Anti-smoking/vaping project
• Unit 4: Careers Education - Growing Careers for a Positive Change 

Year 8

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

Year 9

• Unit 1: Citizenship Education - British Politics
• Unit 2: Relationships Sex Education- Real Love Rocks
• Unit 3: Citizenship Education - Gangs, knives & county lines

Year 10

• Unit 1: Relationships Sex Education - Healthy Sexual life
• Unit 2: Careers Education - Personal Career Development
• Unit 3: Drug Education - Understanding Drugs & the Law
• Unit 4: Internet Safety & Harms/Financial Education - Being a Savvy Consumer
• Unit 5: Relationships Sex Education - Unhealthy Relationships

Year 11

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

Year 12

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

Year 13

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

Tutorial Programme

Year 7

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

Year 8

• Unit 1: Relationships Sex Education - Families
• Unit 2: Internet Safety & Harms - BBFC: Choosing what to watch
• Unit 3: Careers Education - Exploring possibilities
• Unit 4: Health Education - Healthy Eating
• Unit 5: Health Education - Immunisation and Vaccinations
• Unit 6: Internet Safety & Harms/Financial Education - Fraud Awareness

Year 9

• Unit 1: Study Skills
• Unit 2: Internet Safety & Harms - Cyber.Fix
• Unit 3: Drug Education - Alcohol awareness
• Unit 4: Health Education - CPR & Defibrillators
• Unit 5: Careers Education - Finding my path
• Unit 6: Relationships Sex Education - Dealing with conflict

Year 10

• Unit 1: Metacognition and revision techniques
• Unit 2: Careers Education - Preparing for Work Experience
• Unit 3: Internet Safety & Harms - Your Rights to Your Information
• Unit 4: Health Education - Blood & Organ Donation
• Unit 5: 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

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

British Values

According DfE, ‘fundamental British values’ comprise:

• Democracy - A culture built upon freedom and equality, where everyone is aware of their rights and responsibilities.
• The rule of law - The need for rules to make a happy, safe and secure environment to live and work.
• Individual liberty - Protection of your rights and the rights of others around you.
• Mutual respect & tolerance of different faiths and beliefs - Understanding that we all don’t share the same beliefs and values. Respecting those values, ideas and beliefs of others whilst not imposing our own onto them.

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

Religious Education is part of the Humanities Faculty and is taught to all students in Key stages 3 and 4. RE lessons are taught mainly by RE specialists supported by other members of the Humanities faculty. Pupils in key stage three will participate in one lesson a week, followed by one lesson a fortnight in key stage 4. Religious Education is also offered as a GCSE and A Level Philosophy is available as an option for 6th form students. 

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.

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.

The RE department also offers an extra curriculum opportunity for years 8 and 9 in the form of a Philosophy Club. Pupils who choose to participate could achieve an extra qualification in Philosophy awarded by the New College of the Humanities.

The current Programme of Study for Religious Education  (2021/22) is as follows:

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?