Term 4 News from the Humanities Faculty

This term has seen students visit local areas of interest, delve deeper into the past and engage with guest speakers.

On the evening of 6th March our Year 11 RS students stepped into the shadows for an unforgettable ghost hunting experience at Fort Amherst in Chatham. As part of their final unit exploring evidence for the afterlife, students took their learning beyond the classroom and into the depths of the Fort’s 400-year-old tunnels. Guided by expert storytellers, they uncovered chilling tales of paranormal activity and mysterious encounters that have echoed through the centuries. Armed with cameras and their own ghost-detecting devices, students became investigators for the night, capturing images, testing theories, and experiencing first-hand the thrill (and nerves!) of the unknown. It was a spine-tingling evening that brought the topic of the paranormal to life, just in time for their upcoming exams!

Our amazing Year 7 students have been taking part in the RE Capturing Faith photograph and images competition that ran this term. There were numerous creative and thoughtful entries showcasing faith in our local area, students not only submitted powerful images but also thoughtfully explained how their photos represented faith. It was incredibly tough to choose but the staff managed to narrow it down to their top three winners. A huge well done to Kardelen C for achieving 1st place, Emily C for 2nd place, and Elise R for securing 3rd place. It was a fantastic effort from everyone who participated and shared their unique perspective!

In the final week of term, the RE department welcomed Rev Simon Fellows from Christ Church St Andrews, Herne Bay, to deliver an inspiring and thought-provoking talk to some of our our Year 7 students. Exploring what worship looks like within a Protestant church, Simon gave students a fascinating insight into the role of prayer, iconography, and communion in helping Christians feel connected to their faith. This built perfectly on their recent learning, where they have been exploring worship through art as part of their Christianity module. Students engaged brilliantly throughout the session, asking insightful questions and showing genuine curiosity and enthusiasm for the subject. It was fantastic to see them embodying our core values of kindness, dedication, and respect. The department would also like to extend our thanks to Rev Anthony Everett, who delivered our Easter assemblies across the final week of term. The interactive assemblies, including a game where chocolate eggs could be won, helped students reflect on the meaning and importance of this key Christian festival.

Across the last couple of weeks, the Year 11 Geography students undertook their compulsory fieldwork, ready for their Paper 3 exam. They braved the early morning elements on Herne Bay beach to investigate whether it is a storm beach. Students carried out a range of activities to collect data to complete their investigation. They undertook a beach profile to study the shape of the beach and a pebble size survey to see if there was a pattern between pebble size and distance from the sea. Students also completed a wave count to study if the waves breaking on the beach would be considered to be destructive. The afternoon session was conducted in the town centre in much more pleasant weather conditions. Students investigated how environmental quality changes across Herne Bay. Students visited 5 sites and carried out litter counts, a traffic survey and environmental quality surveys. Students conducted themselves in a fantastic fashion, they engaged fully with the tasks, they were polite and helpful to members of the public who spoke to them and they even managed to walk further than last year’s cohort by walking 7.4 miles during the day!

Finally, in History, our Year 7 students have been diving deep into the fascinating world of medieval kings. As part of Miss Kinch’s lessons, students explored the significance of the Magna Carta and its impact on shaping laws and rights. To bring history to life, they created their own Magna Cartas using a variety of creative techniques - including tea bags to give their designs an authentic, aged, and medieval look. The results were incredible. Each student combined historical understanding with artistic flair, producing documents that are both visually striking and historically meaningful. Their completed Magna Cartas now make a fantastic display in the History classroom, serving as a proud showcase of their hard work, creativity, and engagement with the past. It’s been wonderful to see students connecting with history in such a hands-on and imaginative way, turning lessons into a truly memorable learning experience.

The Faculty is already looking ahead to next term and the exciting opportunities we have planned for some of our other year groups.