Global Learning at The Dorcan Academy. Geography

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1 Global Learning at The Dorcan Academy Global Learning is an essential part of the school curriculum. It is the one subject which studies human existence on earth in terms of place, time and belief. The department shares a common philosophy that the study of Global Learning provides students with an understanding of the world they live in and facilitates their development as future citizens, able to make a positive contribution to society. Geography Geography is the study of our natural world and how humans are changing the face of the world we know. In geography we focus on helping students understand how everyone in the world is connected and how people in different parts of the world lead different lives. The aims of Geography are: to help students gain geographical knowledge and understanding to introduce students to geographical enquiry and the associated geographical skills to help students develop a sense of identity by studying the UK and its relationship with the outside world to foster an interest in and a concern for the people and the world around them Geography in the National Curriculum To meet the demands of the National Curriculum the following units of work are studied: Year 9 Map Skills; Rivers; Coasts; Urbanisation and Environmental Geography Development; Population; Volcanoes; Rocks and Deserts and Industry Tourism; Earthquakes; Glaciation; Weather and Climate and Geographical Skills Students in Year 9 will then start their preparation for the GCSE Geography course with a unit focusing on Ecosystems with detailed references to the Tropical Rainforest and Polar Regions. GCSE Geography Year 10 and Year 11 Students who opt for GCSE Geography will follow the AQA Course. There are three main units of study, which are called: UNIT 1: Living with the physical environment (35%) UNIT 2: Challenges in the human environment (35%) UNIT 3: Geographical Applications (30%) The course is examined through three exams, with students attending two field trips that will be written up in the UNIT 3 exam.

2 History History can mean two things: the past the study of the past The past influences all aspects of our lives. It shapes the customs and beliefs of the communities to which we belong. Learning about the past and the methods used to study it helps students make sense of the world in which they live. The aims of History are: to help students develop a sense of identity through learning about the world, Europe and in particular Britain to introduce students to what is involved in understanding and interpreting the past KS3 History KS3 History is delivered through fifteen units of work. What is History?; Romans; Medieval England; Tudors and Stuarts and Slavery and the British Empire The Industrial revolution; Warfare through time; WW1; The Interwar Period and WW2 Year 9 The Holocaust; The Cold War ; The Assassination of JFK; Fighting for freedom and equality and Terrorism, 9/11 and the rise of ISIS GCSE History Year 10 and Year 11 Students who opt for GCSE History will follow the OCR History B (SHP) course. The units covered are: Crime and Punishment Through Time Elizabethan England Local Study - The history of the Swindon railway works and village The Making of America Living under Nazi rule

3 Religious Studies Religious Studies is about helping young people achieve a knowledge and understanding of religious insight, beliefs and practices so that they are able to continue in, or come to, their own beliefs and respect the rights of other people to hold beliefs different from their own. It is designed to help students to identify for themselves the fundamental questions of human existence, so that they may continue to reflect upon these and arrive at the decisions life calls for in a responsible way. The aims and purposes of Religious Studies Religious Studies aims to assist students in their own search for meaning and purpose in life by examining those aspects of human experience which give rise to fundamental questions about belief and values. As an integral part of that process, it aims to provide students with knowledge and understanding of Christianity and other major religious traditions represented in contemporary British society. Religious Studies is delivered to Years 7 and 8 through six units of work. These are: A to Z of Religion; Exploring Christianity and Judaism Buddhism; Faith in Action and Islam Religious Studies at GCSE All students take the compulsory full course GCSE RS at Key Stage 4 and will follow WJEC Eduqas GCSE in Religious Studies Route A. The course covers 3 components which are: Component 1: Religious, philosophical and ethical studies in the modern world focussing on: o Issues of relationships o Issues of life and death o Issues of good and evil o Issues of human rights Component 2: Christianity: Beliefs. teachings and practices Component 3: Islam: Beliefs, teachings and practices This is assessed by 100% exam.

4 Psychology The word psychology comes from the combination of two Greek words, psyche and logos. It literally means the study of the mind. Psychology is a science and we can use it to understand people s behaviour and to predict how they are likely to behave in different situations. The aims of Psychology are therefore to: help students understand themselves and others understand how their mind works and develop effective learning and revision techniques Key Stage 4 Students who opt for GCSE Psychology will follow the Edexcel course. There are two main units of study which consist of eight topics: Paper 1: Topic 1: Development How did you develop? Topic 2: Memory How does your memory work? Topic 3: Psychological problems How would psychological problems affect you? Topic 4: The brain and neuropsychology How does your brain affect you? Topic 5: Social influence How do others affect you? Paper 2: Topic 6: Criminal psychology Why do people become criminals? Topic 8: Perception How do you interpret the world around you? Topic 11: Research methods How do you carry out psychological research? The course is examined through two written exams, which include some multiple-choice questions, some short answer questions and some extended writing: Paper 1: 1 hour and 45 minute exam 55% of the total grade (98 marks) Paper 2: 1 hour and 20 minute exam worth 45% of the total grade (79 marks)

5 Sociology Sociology as a term means quite simply, the study of society. Society is made up of complex systems and unwritten rules that have developed naturally over hundreds of years. Studying Sociology helps you to understand these unwritten rules, including how your actions influence society and how society influences your actions. At The Dorcan Academy we follow AQA Sociology. In Sociology your study will be split into several topics; The Family, Education, Crime and Deviance and Social stratification/class. Here are some of the key questions that we investigate in GCSE Sociology: - How does our childhood influence how we behave as adults? - How has what we define as normal changed over time? - Why are girls more successful in their GCSEs than boys? - Why is prison full of the working class? - Why do people commit crime? - How has the role of women changed from housewife to working woman? - Why are politicians old, rich, white men? How can we change this? - How does your ethnicity affect your educational success? The course is 100% examined with exams having multiple choice questions followed by a range of short and extended responses.