This report examines standards, provision and leadership of the humanities at key stages 2, 3 and 4 in schools where good practice has been identified.
Recommendations
Schools should:
- R1 Ensure a balance between the development of pupils’ skills and of their knowledge and understanding of subject content
- R2 Ensure that pupils’ learning experiences in the humanities are wide-ranging, interesting, progressive and challenging, particularly at key stage 4
- R3 Monitor the progress that pupils make in the humanities more closely
- R4 Evaluate the curriculum for the humanities to prepare for the development and implementation of the new area of learning and experience
- R5 Establish local networks of good practice to share resources and expertise, including making greater use of the schools’ locality
Local authorities and regional consortia should:
- R6 Provide better professional learning opportunities for teachers of the humanities
- R7 Provide more support for schools to evaluate their curriculum and to plan for the development of the humanities area of learning and experience
The Welsh Government should:
- R8 Ensure that initial teacher education courses provide new teachers including primary teachers with the necessary skills to teach the humanities successfully and to respond to the new Curriculum for Wales