Humanities
Geography
In Geography we follow the National Curriculum to gain an understanding of the local area, South East England and a variety of other regions throughout the world. Pupils learn about weather and climate, features of the landscape, maps and fieldwork. Pupils also find out about the regions people inhabit, their lifestyle and associated environmental issues.
A high-quality geography education should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Our teaching will equip pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes.
In Key Stage 3, the teaching of History and Geography is combined under the title ‘Topic’.
History
In History we follow the chronological story of Britain from the Stone Age, the Romans, the Anglo-Saxons, the Middle Ages, Trade and Industry and the era of the Second World War. The GCSE course in Years 10 and 11 follow a detailed study of Britain in the Twentieth Century.
As well as using a range of textbooks, a number of visits to local and national historical sites help to make History an enjoyable curriculum subject. The proximity of Greenwich and the River Thames provides a valuable source and opportunity to investigate local History.
Information Communication Technology and Computer Science
The teaching of ICT and Computer Science involves the use of computers to communicate information, process data, produce media or to control machines. Pupils learn how to use word processors, DTP software, spread sheets, databases, web design, sound, video and graphics applications. Pupils work at their own workstation in our well-equipped ICT suites and have online access to network files and the Internet. Pupils are encouraged to create accounts to store, transfer and backup their work, they have their own school email address and can use file attachments to transfer work between home and school. The facilities include a variety of software for cross curricular activities and for GCSE coursework in Years 10 and 11 and A Level Computer Science classes in Riverston College.
Computers are an important tool used widely in the world outside school. It is inevitable that pupils will use a computer and other ICT equipment after leaving school so the skills and confidence gained in using this equipment in these lessons are vital to pupil’s success in the future.
Modern Foreign Languages
At Riverston School, Spanish is taught from Year 7 to Year 11.
The aim of the department is to create an environment in which all pupils can achieve their potential academically. The use of interactive activities in lessons helps to further enhance learning and teaching in a fun way.
In our teaching we set out to develop the pupils’ ability to communicate effectively in Spanish as well as providing an insight into the Spanish culture and history.
Religious Education
Apart from acquiring the subject knowledge based on the national curriculum, our pupils are encouraged to improve their ability to understand ideas and to form and articulate their personal opinions and views.
Both, oral and written communication skills are taught through discussions and written tasks. Frequent debates also offer an excellent opportunity to improve their team work skills. The subjects are taught with strong emphasis on current affairs which brings relevance to the topics studied in class. The subjects are delivered with strong cross-curricula links, drawing from a number of other subjects such as History, Geography, Science, Art and Literature.
This lesson forms part of our Form Time SMSC programme, alongside Citizenship, PSHE and SRE.
