Intent 

At Hatfield Wick School, the Humanities curriculum is broken down into two strands (History and Geography) which provides students with a broad, balanced and coherent programme of learning that develops secure knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and present, alongside an informed awareness of the wider world. The curriculum is ambitious and carefully sequenced so that new knowledge builds systematically on prior learning, enabling students to develop chronological understanding, geographical awareness and an appreciation of local, national and global contexts across time and space. 

Through structured enquiry, students are taught to ask relevant and meaningful questions, evaluate a range of sources and evidence, use subject-specific vocabulary accurately and apply key disciplinary concepts. In History, this includes continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity and difference, and historical significance. In Geography, students develop understanding of place, space, scale, interdependence, physical and human processes, and environmental change. Together, these disciplines support students to understand how societies, landscapes and environments are shaped and reshaped over time. 

The Humanities curriculum supports students to explore the complexity and diversity of cultures, identities and communities, both within Britain and globally. Teaching explicitly promotes appreciation of different cultures, beliefs and lived experiences, enabling students to understand how historical and geographical factors influence social structures, inequality, migration, identity and community life. Through this learning, students are supported to develop respect for difference, challenge stereotypes and recognise the value of diversity within modern Britain. 

The curriculum actively promotes fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. Students learn how these values have developed historically, how they operate within British society today, and how they compare with systems and experiences in other parts of the world. This supports students to develop informed perspectives, critical thinking skills and a growing sense of citizenship. 

Delivered through Hatfield Wick’s trauma-informed, strengths-based CARES framework (Compassion, Autonomy, Respect, Empathy and Support), the Humanities curriculum is accessible to all students, including those with SEND, without reducing ambition. Teaching approaches promote engagement, confidence, independence and reflective thinking, ensuring students feel safe, valued and supported to participate fully. Through Humanities, students develop a secure sense of identity, an understanding of the world around them and the knowledge and skills needed for their next stage of education and life beyond Hatfield Wick.

Implementation 

KS2 & KS3

Humanities at Key Stages 2 & 3 covers the national curriculum aims and content. Both subjects are planned carefully to enable progression of knowledge and skills as well as developing an understanding of chronology by plotting key points on timelines as they progress throughout their own learning journey.  

At Key Stages 2 & 3, we teach humanities weekly split into two sessions for history and geography. Each topic lasts two terms (a typical term) to ensure greater coverage, depth and understanding. Most of our topic work leads beautifully to cross-curricular work to enrich the other key aspects of our core curriculum. 

The range of topics we cover, which create part of our engaging curriculum offer, can be found on the long-term overviews. 

KS4

Currently, we do not offer any formal qualifications at Key Stage 4. However, pupils can still work towards AQA Awards during Key Stage 2 and 3 so they still achieve success that can be celebrated!