News

THE ROSE REVIEW AND THE FUTURE OF PRIMARY HUMANITIES

The Primary review which published its final report [earlier this year] is likely to provide the blueprint for primary subjects including the humanities for the next few decades. The report contains much to recommend it. There is a genuine concern to rebalance the curriculum to ensure that subject areas such as the humanities do not continue to be neglected in the primary curriculum. The creation of broad based areas of study opened the possibility not only for integrated work but also for rethinking the nature of subject areas and their contribution to the curriculum. This is essential for the humanities where a wide range of subjects offer their own methodologies and perspectives for understanding human behaviour and experience.

The programme of study for the humanities which accompanied the final report was a disappointment. ‘Historical, geographical and social understanding’ is a slightly slimed down version of the existing programme of study for history and geography with the addition of citizenship. This is a recipe for fragmentation and further decline. The humanities needs to be reconstructed around the key concepts which are needed to understand our world. We need a cohesive and dynamic humanities and not pruned down versions of history and geography. If we get this wrong we will condemn the humanities to another decade of decline in the primary school. The Humanities Association will:

Introduce a real debate about the future shape of the humanities in the primary school which brings together all humanities subjects
Create an alternative programme of study for the humanities
Identify and disseminate units of work and approaches which illustrate a cohesive approach to the humanities in the primary school

A response to the Interim Report on the Primary Curriculum Review

At our March conference the Humanities Association compiled a response to the Interim Report on the Primary Curriculum Review.

The Humanities Association’s response to the first 'Call for Evidence' for the review of the primary curriculum. download ( PDF)

Imperial War Museum Holocaust Fellowship Scheme

Jim Fanning, Assistant Headteacher, Tideway School, East Sussex

As humanities practitioners we are used to working with physical sources. What do you do when that evidence simply does not exist, when all you are left with is an empty space representing what had been?

In November 2008 I visited the site of the Treblinka Death Camp in Poland with a group of fellow educators who were enrolled on the Imperial War Museum Holocaust Fellowship Scheme. More » ( PDF)

Tideway School Holocaust Project 2009 [external link - opens new window/tab]

‘Diploma in Humanities & Social Sciences’

Line of Learning Statement Consultations

The latest round of consultations on the Line of Learning Statement for the Diploma in Humanities & Social Sciences has been completed; the online version closed its doors, figuratively, on Friday 27 February. The data will now be analysed with our findings available for review on 30 March 2009 via our website www.humanitiesdiploma.co.uk [external link].

We’d like to thank all those that took part and any feedback you may have on the live or online consultation events themselves, which can be utilised in the next round of consultations on the criteria, would be gratefully received. Email: humanities@ccskills.org.uk

Name change

You may have noticed that our Diploma title (above) has changed. As part of the latest consultation, we asked respondees to consider a proposed title change. As a result, our name is now ‘Diploma in Humanities & Social Sciences’ as opposed to ‘Diploma in Humanities’. We feel that this new name better describes the content matter of this qualification.

Criteria Consultations on the Line of Learning

We are nearing a critical phase in the development of the Diploma and as a result, I would ask that you make yourselves available to take part in the live consultations taking place across the country on the criteria of the Diploma in Humanities & Social Sciences. The criteria will establish the knowledge, skills and understanding required by students to qualify for their Diploma. To register for your nearest venue, register your interest to attend, see: www.humanitiesdiploma.co.uk [external link].

Criteria venues and dates

21 April 09 : North East - Radisson SAS Durham Hotel
23 April 09 : North West - Radisson SAS Manchester Airport Hotel
28 April 09 : London - Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel
07 May 09 :Yorkshire - The Queens Hotel, Leeds
12 May 09 : South East - Barceló Basingstoke Country Hotel
14 May 09 : South West - Mercure Holland House Bristol
19 May 09 : East of England - Trinity Park Conference Centre, Ipswich
28 May 09 : East Midlands - Nottingham Conference Centre p
29 May 09 : West Midlands - Crowne Plaza NEC Birmingham

...

Important note: The information above is a copy of an electronic flyer distributed from Creative & Cultural Skills about the Diploma in Humanities & Social Sciences [March 2009].

OCR - Recognising Achievement [GCSE - Humanities]

I would like to thank you [Deirdre Smith] and Humanities Association for your contribution to the redevelopment of our GCSE(s) in Humanities. Our GCSE specifications have now been finalised and approved by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and we will shortly be sending them out to schools and colleges to ensure that teachers have as much preparation time as possible prior to teaching the new specifications in 2009.

Download the letter ( PDF)

Humanities in the 21st Century Curriculum

A response to the Current Secondary Curriculum Review - The most significant event for Humanities right now must be the current review of the secondary curriculum. A-level review has already taken place, as has the review of GCSE criteria for history, geography, RE and citizenship. The review of criteria for Humanities GCSEs will take place later this month. The key stage 3 programmes of study for all National Curriculum subjects have been revised in the context of a review of the aims and purposes of the whole curriculum... more » ( PDF)

Changes to Humanities GCSE coursework

QCA announced the following changes to coursework (on 6th October, 2006): ‘In geography, history, religious studies and social sciences, there should no longer be coursework that is teacher set and marked. It should be replaced by controlled assessments. Controlled assessments will be taken under supervised conditions and will either be set by the awarding body and marked by teachers or be set by teachers and marked by the awarding body. Controlled assessments may involve different parameters from those used in traditional written examinations. They may, for example, allow access to sources such as the internet but under supervision.’

Timing
The changes will be introduced in September 2009, with the exception of mathematics where the change will commence from September 2007.

January 2007 - Teachers meet with QCA to discuss proposals.
April 2007 - Report on controlled assessments published.
Spring/Summer 2007 -Consultation on GCSE subject-specific criteria carried out.
Autumn 2007 - Revised GCSE subject-specific criteria published.

Action
What are your views regarding the proposed changes to GCSE coursework in Humanities? Email your response to: HUMS

Other Useful Links:

Subject by subject review of coursework ( PDF)
Mori Poll on Coursework (external link)

Chartered Geographer (Teacher)

The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) offers the only ongoing professional accreditation linked to CPD in Geography - Chartered Geographer (Teacher). Chartered Geographer (Teacher) status recognises subject knowledge in geography; professional practice & expertise, commitment to CPD and the sharing of expertise beyond specific teaching responsibilities. Applicants must demonstrate:

Honours degree in geography or B.Ed with geography (or 15 years teaching experience if a 'non geography' graduate).
At least six years teaching experience.
Demonstrable commitment to CPD, embedding it in practice, reflecting on this work and supporting others.

Chartered Geographer (Teacher) is relevant to the developing TDA framework of professional and occupational standards for teachers. Download flyer ( PDF)

For further information please email: cgeogteacher@rgs.org or go to www.rgs.org/cgeogteacher (external link)

Discovering hidden gems: Cultural figures support new British Library Learning website

"How tremendously exciting that there is something to explore here. It's a resource with no limits. You make of it what you can. You are the adventurer. You are the traveller. It is surely one of the wonders of the world that you can have such easy, pain-free access to this stuff. What a treat. I hope everybody at every school everywhere in Britain can be guided to this astounding adventure. "
Griff Rhys Jones

British Library - Press Release ... ( PDF)

British Library Learning website (external link)

Innovative, inclusive and in your classroom. The BBC Creative Schools Archive has arrived.

Have you logged onto the BBC Schools site recently? If so, you may have noticed a Creative Archive logo down the right hand side of the home page. Now you can be in control. You decide which clips you want, where you want them and how you want to use them. - the only limit is your imagination.

The Creative Schools Archive aims to be a very special educational experience.

George Auckland, Head of Innovations at the BBC said "We are putting teachers and pupils in control of content. This is an very exciting new development - and we are only just at the beginning"

Historians can download Anglo Saxon soldiers preparing for battle and Roman soldiers discussing their clothes and weapons; geographers can download volcanoes and glaciers. There are also clips of grizzly bears, penguins and Buddhist temples to name just a few - all are downloadable and can be mixed and matched together for use in your lessons or at home as you see fit.

We hope to keep adding more clips, so please do keep coming back to see what's new.

At the moment, this is a pilot project; we do need your feedback for the future. What do you like about the site? Will it be useful in your lessons? What kinds of clips would you like to see up there? Let us know.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/archive (external link)

The Humanities Association and NAHA merger

The Humanities Association is delighted to announce their merger with the National Association of Humanities Advisers (NAHA). This will strengthen the work of the joint association in support of humanities in schools and colleges throughout the country and extend our international links. The two associations have always worked closely and on occasions have shared national conferences, and the combination of advisory expertise from NAHA, together with the wider membership of the Humanities Association which represents all levels of the teaching profession, still strengthen our capacity .to promote a humanities curriculum fitting for the 21st century. Both associations share a commitment to a broadly defined Humanities entitlement for all children and young people.

More information will follow in the coming months.

Newsletter - 2006

Broadening the Humanities

David Bell the previous HMCI said in a speech last year, quoting Alexander Pope, 'the proper study of mankind is man' emphasising the centrality of the humanities in the curriculum. In the same speech he drew attention to the 'emaciated' state of the humanities in the primary curriculum as a result of the emphasis schools have been encouraged to make on the 'core' subjects. In the same speech he outlined a number of strategies to take the humanities forward... more » ( PDF)

A Guide to the Education and Inspections Bill 2006

New Labour started decade of political power with the mantra of education, education, education and it is fitting that one of the last acts of the creator of New Labour (excluding the possibility of the odd new war) is an education Bill... more » ( PDF)

Who monitors standards now?

This is the last time that Ofsted will be publishing subjects reports based on evidence from whole school inspections. From September 2005, subject evidence will be gained from qualitative inspections of a small sample of schools, and future methods of reporting will reflect this change... more » ( PDF)

Note: The Annual school subjects reports can be accessed on the Ofsted website (external link)

Taking Stock - Has the future for the Humanities changed?

Being positive about the future of the humanities sometimes feels like being on the Titanic and feeling positive about the lack of impact of global warming on icebergs. Everyone is happy to affirm the centrality and relevance of a humanities education in the 21 st century and yet we continue to sink.

Our decent beneath the cold waters of the English curriculum has been regularly charted by Ofsted and the most recent Ofsted subject reports are no exception... more » (

PDF)

QCA Annual Reports for Humanities Subjects

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has published a series of reports on the curriculum and its assessment for history, geography, religious education and citizenship. The reports can be downloaded from the QCA website (external link)