With specialist teachers for each discipline, History, Geography and Religious Studies are often grouped under the loose umbrella of Humanities, with cross-curricular links between them at all stages of the curriculum.
History
Knowing about our past is important because it gives us, both as individuals and as a society, an understanding of who we are; it gives us a sense of identity and security; it gives us the confidence to go forward in the present and the future.
We also understand our world better and our place in it when we know about other people's past as well as our own. The History Department at Newton Prep aims to assist pupils on this journey of understanding by helping them to cultivate transferable skills, including the ability to form written and spoken arguments, and to think critically by interpreting accounts, evidence and sources. In order to develop these skills, the pupils study a variety of periods of History, including the Ancient Egyptians, the Romans, the Middle Ages and the World Wars.
A variety of educational visits are organised regularly to extend the pupils’ learning beyond the classroom. A few recent favourites include trips to Hampton Court, the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, the Imperial War Museum and the National Portrait Gallery.
Geography
Geography is a dynamic and exciting subject of Newton Prep curriculum.
We teach geographical skills and knowledge within context, utilising a variety of topical and relevant resources and we aim to enrich our lessons by celebrating the diversity of our school’s community and drawing upon pupils’ experiences.
We offer a range of trips and residentials to provide opportunities to practise skills in the field, including trips to the Lake District and around London.
The aim of the Geography Department is to help our pupils to develop an understanding of where they live, of who they live with and of how cultures interact with their surroundings. We teach children how to care for the environment and to appreciate the physical landscape of our world.
Religious Studies
Religious Studies makes a distinctive contribution to the Newton Prep curriculum by helping to develop our pupils' knowledge and understanding of the seven major world religions: Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity and Humanism.
We look at each religion’s beliefs, founders, holy books, religious symbols, religious foods and festivals, and complement our studies with visits to some of their respective places of worship. Such visits enable our pupils to really immerse themselves in the experience of each religion and its practice.
In Years 7 & 8, Religious Studies becomes Theology, Philosophy and Religion, and it forms part of the Newton Diploma. The subject enables pupils to consider and respond to a range of important questions related to their own spiritual and philosophical development, enabling them to consider their own values and attitudes and to ask fundamental questions concerning the meaning and purpose of life.
