Term 2 News from the Humanities Faculty

Term 2 has been a busy one across the Humanities Faculty, and as the term draws to a close, we are excited to share the fantastic experiences and achievements across some of the subjects within the faculty.

Over the first 4 days of the term Year 13 A Level Geography students undertook fieldwork. Day one was spent with Mr. Cox in Canterbury, investigating environmental quality. Students surveyed a number of locations and collected data on noise pollution, litter, traffic levels, environmental quality, air quality and completed a land use survey at each location. On Tuesday, students made the long drive to Camber Sands with Mr Cox and Mr Phillips. The weather was dry but incredibly windy and visibility on the beach was a challenge to say the least, with sand flying in all directions. Students investigated the effects of management on the dunes, completed a sand dune profile, a vegetation cover, height and type survey along with soil pH. By the end of the day there was probably more sand on the students than on the beach! Wednesday was based in Margate, investigating the impacts of regeneration on the town. Students visited six locations and completed questionnaires, noise pollution surveys, litter counts, traffic surveys, land use surveys and environmental quality surveys. Thursday saw the group meet at Thanet Parkway train station, they undertook a leisurely, if slightly cold walk down to Pegwell Bay Country Park. The day was spent investigating the impacts of human activity on the natural environment. Students visited a number of sites whilst braving the stern looks of the resident cattle. They took decibel readings, carried out footpath erosion surveys and litter counts. Over the four days the students conducted themselves faultlessly and enjoyed seeing and investigating real life geographical issues, related to the topics they have covered during their studies.

On 14th November, we were delighted to welcome Annabella Coldrick to the school. Annabella spoke to Sixth Form students from a range of subjects, including those studying Politics. She shared her extensive career experience, which spans EU advocacy in Brussels, commercial and public affairs with Cadbury, government communications at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and, most recently, her role as Director of Policy and Research at the Design Council. Her talk was inspiring and gave students a better understanding of the range of careers they could pursue in the future.

In Key Stage 3 RE, students have been learning about a range of religions, with Year 7 exploring what defines a religion and the six main world faiths, Year 8 studying Buddhism, and Year 9 focusing on Islam. Mr Dacombe was particularly impressed by the high-quality work produced on the teachings of Buddha, including the Five Precepts and the Eightfold Path. Year 9 students have also been developing their research skills while investigating key Islamic teachings, with some outstanding homework completed on the concept of charity. Well done to all our RE students!

In Criminology students have been exploring why some crimes go unreported, with a focus on cyberbullying. They carried out research and worked closely with some of our Year 7 mentor groups to understand what younger students know and understand about cyberbullying and how to report it. Using their findings, the students designed eye-catching posters to raise awareness of the support services and charities available to help young people stay safe online and tackle cyberbullying with confidence. It was great to see some of our oldest students working so well with the youngest students in the school.

The History department ran a Year 7 Build a Castle Competition. Students have been learning about Norman Motte and Bailey castles and were challenged to build their own. There were some highly imaginative entries with students creating castles from all manner of materials, ranging from cardboard to 3D printed creations. Judging and prizes were awarded based on historical accuracy and originality. Well done to all those who entered!

Term 2 has certainly been full of learning, collaboration, and real-world experiences across the Humanities Faculty. We’re proud of our students for their enthusiasm, dedication, and creativity, and we can’t wait to see what the next term brings!