Humanities

All students will study both History and Geography four times per fortnight at Key Stage 3.  Homework is set once each week for both subjects – this may be a written or learning task. In Key Stage 3 homework may be set as a termly project, which students should spend approximately 30 minutes a week on. 

Geography

At PACA, our learning journey in Geography involves ….

• Learning about places and the geographical processes that change/shape these places
• Understanding how we are more connected to other places around the world than ever before and that we are all ‘global citizens’
• Developing an awareness of our actions affect people in other places
• Analysing spatial and numerical data so we can deepen our understanding of places
• Applying our knowledge and understanding of geographical concepts and places to make judgements and reach conclusions
• Developing our literacy and numeracy skills and presenting our ideas clearly and effectively using these skills

As students become more competent, we see progress in students’ …

• Use of increasingly more complex key concepts
• Moving from describing - explaining - analysing - critically evaluating
• Building a wider subject-specific vocabulary
• Applying knowledge in unfamiliar settings
• Ability to make synoptic links between different topics in geography – and across other subjects.

Beyond the Classroom

Fieldwork is an essential part of Geography in both Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4.  Past fieldwork experiences have included trips to Cuckmere Haven and Brighton New England Quarter.

geography curriculum map april 2024.pdf

You can view more about our Geography Curriculum here 

You can also see our teachers' open evening presentations below:

History

KS3

In years 7 & 8 you will study a wide range of topics from 1066 to the end of WW2. Each topic will be based on a broad enquiry question. Topics include childhood through time; Norman England; The Tudors; The British Empire; The transatlantic slave trade, WW1 and WW2.

In year 9 you will study thematically across 900 years of British history and focus on how society changed and the development of medicine through time, from the Black Death in Medieval Britain to significant events of the 20th Century.

KS4

History GCSE provided students with a firm academic basis and is an ideal subject to study for anyone wanting to pursue academic A-Levels. Students learn to read and interpret complex historical sources and interpretations.  Students are encouraged to aim high and we provide with a wide range of revision resources to help them deal with the challenging content. It is an ideal subject for students with a keen interest in current affairs and who enjoy engaging with political debate.

 We follow an Edexcel GCSE program, and we teach the following topics:

 You can read more about our history curriculum here and the details of topics studied at each stage here.