Humanities

Humanities

CLASSICS

In Classics, girls have the opportunity to study Latin or Classical Civilisation throughout the Senior Department.

In Latin at Key Stage 3, we follow the highly acclaimed Cambridge Latin Course whose books and stories are progressively set in Pompeii, various towns in Roman Britain and the Roman provincial city of Alexandria.  At GCSE, girls begin their study of ‘real’ Latin literature texts, either Verse or Prose authors such as Ovid, Martial, Pliny, Horace; this is of course in addition to the ongoing language element. The final unit involves a study of certain Roman society topics based wholly around a range of primary evidence; topics include Entertainment, Myth and Beliefs, and Roman Britain.

In Classical Civilisation we study both the culture and literature of Ancient Greece and Rome.

At Key Stage 3, the girls are exposed to a broad range of classical areas e.g. Homer’s timeless tales of the Trojan War and its heroes, the city of Athens, the role of women in ancient Greek society, gods and myths, the founding of Rome and the invasion of Britain.

At GCSE, girls take the following 2 units:

1. Myth & Religion (including topics such as the gods, heroes, temples, symbols of power, the underworld, all of which are studied in both the Greek and Roman civilisations);

2. Roman City Life (including the cultural study of family, housing, society, entertainment, and a literary study of Roman attitudes towards aspects of their culture, analysing the satires of Juvenal and Horace, as well as a number of Pliny’s Letters).

Epoch Magazine | Feb 2023 

GEOGRAPHY

In Geography, we start by looking at where we are in the world, right down to our local area shown in detail on maps.  Later on, we study Physical Geography topics such as coasts, earthquakes and volcanoes and the weather. We also look at economic development and the role of aid, trade and tourism in the world economy.  At GCSE we study the AQA specification with equal emphasis on physical and human geography, including practising fieldwork skills.  Girls also have the opportunity to take part in trips abroad such as Iceland and Morocco.

HISTORY

History explores the events which have shaped our world today. Via the struggle between the Church and Crown in the Middle Ages and the Reformation we follow slave ships across the Atlantic and relive the Industrial Revolution.  At GCSE we look at the impact of the Norman Invasion of 1066 and explore the history of medicine and health in Britain.   We visit the battlefields of the Western Front and the city of Berlin to examine conflict and tension in the 20th century, studying the First World War and the rise of Hitler.

RELIGIOUS STUDIES

Year 7
They begin their senior school experience with a topic called The Island where they learn about different aspects of religion through drama and experiential learning. We look at a range of world religions in relation to the Importance of Laws, Tradition, Leadership, sacred text, denominations, and ceremonies.  In the spring term we will study Judaism looking at a range of key beliefs, traditions, and issues, including the Origins of Judaism, The Torah, Israel, Passover and Shabbat. In the summer term we end on Christianity which will focus on the Bible, (origins of) and the Teachings and Miracles of Jesus according to The Gospel of Mark.

Year 8
Some classic philosophical arguments in relation to the existence of God. This includes, The Design Argument, The Theory of Evolution, The Big Bang Theory, The Problem of Evil and the Nature of God. They will also have the opportunity to learn about some of the key ideas and beliefs within Hinduism and Islam.

Year 9
The all-important subject of Ethics and Morality, again exploring the famous ethicists of the past and present. We then go onto Buddhism learning about key concepts such as Dukka, The Eightfold Path and Nirvana and of course, the Life of Siddartha Gautama.

Year 10
GCSE (AQA) the girls study the following topics, Christianity Beliefs and Teachings, Christian Practices, Christian Ethics: Relationships and Families plus Religion and Life.

Year 11
GCSE (AQA)the girls finish their two-year course by studying Judaism Beliefs and Teachings, Judaism Practices, Christian Ethics once again but this time: Peace and Conflict plus Human Rights and Social Justice.