The Humanities Department of Redwood Park School is responsible for the teaching of both History and Geography. During their period at Redwood Park, pupils will alternate their study between the two subjects.

History

Pupils will be taught to develop key historical skills, which will include the following:

	Chronological Understanding
	Knowledge and understanding of events, people and changes in the past.
	Historical interpretation
	Historical enquiry
	Organisation and Communication

In developing these skills, pupils will participate in a programme of study which will commence with a scheme of work titled ‘What is history?’ This will be followed with ‘The Romans’. Year 8 pupils will study ‘The Machinery Age’, followed by the ‘Victorians’ and ‘The Great War’. In years 10 and 11 pupils will undertake the following topics from the AQA Unit Award scheme: ‘The Lifestyle of the Indians of the American Plains’, ‘The Home Front (World War 2)’ and ‘The Changing Face of Warfare’.

Geography

This subject affords pupils the opportunity to study the geographical features of their surroundings. It will encourage the pupils to develop their investigation and analytical skills. They will also be encouraged to develop their geographical vocabulary as well as extending their experiences of field work through direct practical activities. Developing their knowledge, understanding and awareness of life beyond our locality is an on-going process throughout their experience at Redwood Park.

Our programme of study is a continuing process of extending pupils’ knowledge, experience and investigation skills. In year 7, they will move on from studying their surroundings in our scheme of work ‘What is Geography?’, to study ‘Transport’ and then ‘France Our Neighbour’ in Year 8. In year 9 they will investigate ‘ Leisure and Tourism’  also 'Weather and Climate' and then focus on local issues through the scheme of work ‘Isle of Wight’. In years 10 and 11 pupils will undertake the following from the AQA Unit Award scheme: ‘The Rainforest’, ‘Rivers and Flooding’, 'Natural Hazards' and mapwork.

In gaining both historical and geographical understanding, pupils will be encouraged to take a ‘hands on’ approach through direct activities outside of school e.g. fieldwork or on school trips. Pupils will also be encouraged to make full use of IT to access information for particular issues of the past as well as exploring the human and physical features of life at home and overseas.