HUMANITIES
We link themes within humanities and also to core curriculum areas. In this way children gain a
comprehensive knowledge of the different subjects and are able to put them into context and deepen
their understanding of the world they live in.
Geography
Throughout Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 pupils are involved in investigating a variety of people,
places and environments both locally, and further afield in the United Kingdom and also abroad.
Geographical enquiry is undertaken inside and outside the classrooms and pupils are taught key skills
such as; observing and recording, asking geographical questions, analysing evidence and drawing
conclusions. Children are provided with opportunities to develop knowledge of globally significant
places both terrestrial and marine, focussing of their characteristics through a range of topics.
Pupils learn about vocabulary specific to the subject, the use of globes, maps and plans at a range of
scales, fieldwork techniques and instruments, and the use of a range of sources of information
including aerial photographs, diagrams and GPS.
We use the 2014 curriculum to uniform our planning and include topical geographical issues which
relate to how people affect the environment and how they are affected by it. Environmental change
and sustainable development are areas of geographical study which are especially important for the
future of all our pupils.
History
Like geography, history is taught within specific cross curricular themes with clearly identified learning
objectives. Pupils learn about the lives and lifestyles of people in the past, including those of
significant men, women and children as well as events from the recent and more distant past in our
own area, further afield in Britain as well as across the wider world. Chronological understanding is
central to an understanding of history and our expectation is that as pupils move into Key Stage 2
they will be expected to be able to place events, people and changes into correct periods of time as
well as using dates and vocabulary appropriately and with accuracy. Acquiring appropriate knowledge
and understanding about the periods and the people of the time, including their characteristic
features, their social, cultural, religious and ethnic diversity and being able to give reasons for, and the
results of, the main historical events and changes, enables pupils to learn not only how the past is
different from the present but how and why historical developments have shaped the world and their
lives.
Local visits and field trips provide excellent learning opportunities for the children in history and
geography and enable them to apply their knowledge.
Religious Education and Assemblies
School assemblies take place each day either in the school hall or in phases or classes. These
enable teachers and pupils to celebrate and reflect.
'Thinking Time' provides an appropriate vehicle through which all aspects relating to our moral wellbeing and service to society can also be shared, supporting the schools’ Personal, Social Education
and Citizenship curriculum. Our assemblies reflect the multicultural nature of our school and include
learning about and celebrating all faiths and cultures.
Friday is a special day of the week when the whole school comes together to celebrate pupil
achievement in all of its diverse forms. Certificates of achievement and attendance are presented
during the these assemblies and children have the opportunity to share their work and successes.
Religious Education is compulsory in all Maintained Schools and regular lessons are given, with work
often incorporated in other subjects across the schools’ broadly based curriculum. The school follows
the Greenwich Agreed Syllabus for R E, which incorporates study of the Christian faith, as well as
other main faiths.
The Education Act allows parents with other faiths the right to withdraw their children from R E
lessons and from assemblies. Parents are asked to contact the Headteacher in this regard and
appropriate arrangements will be made to support the circumstances of each request.