Our Rationale for Learning in Humanities

We place great emphasis on skills development in our classes and understand Humanities subjects to be a focal point within the school curriculum for the development of enquiry skills (in particular, analytical and evaluative skills), as well as important character traits like open-mindedness, fairness and compassion. Supporting pupils to become more reflective, independent, critical thinkers is central to what we do as practitioners. As a faculty, we work to ensure that the programmes of learning we offer pupils are educationally meaningful, progressive and coherent, in keeping with the spirit of Curriculum for Excellence.

The promotion of critical thinking, and critical literacy more generally, forms the mainstay of faculty practice in the Humanities. In both the BGE and Senior Phases, pupils experience a curriculum designed to support skills development, particularly the development of higher order thinking skills. Our curriculum planning focuses on providing pupils with learning experiences that allow them to progress in their development of these skills by ensuring that courses offered build on prior learning and challenge pupils to extend their knowledge and deepen their understanding in the subjects we teach. We take a systematic approach to the teaching of thinking skills across the faculty, in accordance with the principles and purposes of Curriculum for Excellence and arrangements documents for National Qualifications. In so doing, we support genuine progression in aspects of learning key to success in school and in the wider world of life and work.