History Overview

History is an important subject at the Academy and is a popular choice with students when they make their choices for GCSE. It is part of the English Baccalaureate selection of subjects encouraged by the government.

Studying History promotes curiosity and understanding of how past actions affect the future. It develops analytical and communication skills and is useful for careers in Law, Politics and surprisingly, Medicine.

At The De La Salle Academy History is taught in an engaging way using video, artefacts and visits to enthuse and awaken the developing minds of our students. In the earlier years, homework takes the form of a project so that the students have some choice and control in using their own learning style to demonstrate their progress each half term. They have the opportunity to write, produce a piece of 2 or 3 dimensional art, use technology to make a video or presentation or even produce some music. In preparation for GCSE more formal homework is set to develop writing and recall skills needed for the examination.

Geography Overview

Geography is currently delivered as a Key Stage 3 subject within the Academy. Students are engaged in a curriculum which develops and extends their knowledge of the world’s major countries and their physical and human features. We specifically focus on the continents of Africa and Asia, and the countries of Russia and China. Students are challenged to understand geographical similarities, differences and links between regions using key physical and human characteristics to support them.

In human geography students focus on world population, migration and urbanisation. We understand how human and physical processes interact to influence, and change landscapes, environments and the climate. In physical geography we focus on the key processes in measuring and reading weather and the elements that make up climate. We encourage our students to ask questions and use geographical data to investigate and understand the world in which we live.

Students demonstrate geographical skills routinely interpreting maps, including grid references and scale, and aerial and satellite photographs. Students research international and national case studies to make their learning relevant to an ever-changing world. Students have opportunities to visit the local area to conduct field work investigations.

Religious Education Overview

The Religious Education Department is a major department within the Academy. It fulfils a dual function: the faith development of the students and as an academic subject. The school is a LaSallian school and the department reflects this in all that it does.

Aims

• To pass on something of value - in this case our Catholic belief and traditions.
• To broaden and deepen our students' understanding of our faith.
• To encourage our students to see themselves as valuable members of the community.
• To assist our students to make wise and enlightened decisions in their lives.
• To help the students to see the place of God in our lives.
• To encourage a realistic view of life and its meaning to a Christian.
• To assist our students to an understanding of the world around them and its problems.
• To encourage our students to strive for goals that will somehow contribute to the common goals.
• To contribute as Catholic teachers in the work of evangelism.
• To prepare our students to achieve success at an appropriate level in external examinations.

Citizenship Overview

Developing Positive, Proactive Citizens

Nelson Mandela stated that:

“No country can truly develop unless its citizens are educated.”

At DLSA we embrace these worlds! Our core aim is for our students to inspire others and breakdown boundaries. To do this they must have the knowledge of what it means to be a good citizen and the skills to help them grow as honest citizens who can contribute to the local, national and global community.

Citizenship is at the heart of all that we do at DLSA.

We are living in exciting times! In the coming years many changes will take place within the UK and Global community. We aim for our students to be equipped to cope with these changes. Through studying Citizenship our students will consider the questions below:

What does it mean to be a UK citizen?

What is Brexit? How will it affect us?

Is immigration a positive or negative force within UK society?

Why do we need law?

Who decides what law is?

Citizenship is multi-disciplinary, this means that our students will have access to a wide range of academic disciplines from History to Law.

To support our program of Citizenship education we offer Edexcel GCSE Citizenship.

The aims of the GCSE Citizenship Course are:

1. To create critical thinkers who are equipped to be 21^st Century UK citizens.

2. Engage young adults in the big political, social and economic debates within the ‘Global’ community.

3. Promote young adults who can analyse and evaluate what it means to be a UK/Global citizen. 

Study Pathways

During the course you will study four pathways as well as creating a Citizenship in Action project:

Unit A: Living Together in the UK

Unit B: Democracy at work in the UK

Unit C: How the Law Works

Unit D: Power & Influence

Unit E: Taking Citizenship Action

Assessment

In Year 11 you will sit TWO Citizenship exams:

Paper One: Will assess Units A – C

Paper Two: Will assess Units D & E

Students also complete a ‘Citizenship in Action’ Project.