An introduction to the Humanities Faculty
The Humanities curriculum at Ibstock Place School is delivered with vibrancy and passion. The Faculty comprises of eleven teachers who are collectively responsible for six subjects – Geography, History, Religious Education and, for Sixth Formers additionally at A Level or Pre-U, Economics, Government and Politics and Philosophy. Geography and History are taught to all pupils in Senior 7 to 9, after which they become optional at both IGCSE and A-level. RE, which was introduced in September 2010, is taught in Senior 7 to 9. Economics, Philosophy and Government and Politics are taught exclusively in the Sixth Form.
Across all of its disciplines, the Faculty’s primary goal is to encourage our pupils to become critical and confident thinkers who engage thoughtfully with the wider world. We value debate and we encourage independent inquiry. Our pupils are expected to keep abreast of current affairs and the discussion of recent news events is an important part of our lessons. While we are mindful of the transferable skills that our subjects can teach, we believe that there are intrinsic benefits to be gleaned from the study of society and human interaction. In this sense, our curriculum is genuinely “humane”. We encourage a global perspective and we challenge parochialism and prejudice. The Faculty is strongly committed to curricular development and we are, for example, currently evaluating CIE’s Pre-U Examination at Sixth Form Level for adoption in more of our subjects – it already operates in Philosophy. Dilemma based learning activities in History, Geography and RE seek to develop the pupils’ logical and creative critical thinking skills. Researched based learning also takes advantage of the extensive resources available within the School Library and through the regular use of ICT facilities.
The Faculty is also committed to providing our pupils with a range of experiences necessary to appreciate the complexity and diversity of the human world. Field trips, both within the UK and beyond, are offered in several subjects. The geographers maintain an extensive programme of excursions while the historians have visited Ypres, Normandy and Russia over the past year. The Faculty maintains an impressive record of external speakers. Recent guests include Dr James Acton of King’s College, London, who spoke on nuclear proliferation, Mr Rudi Oppenheimer, a survivor of Bergen-Belsen and Trevor Baylis, inventor of the clockwork radio. We recognise the contribution which Humanities subjects can make to teaching of other subjects and we are always alive to the possibility of cross-curricular co-operation, not least in the ongoing “London Project” which is currently active in S7.