Social Subjects

Social Studies and RMPS

Lochgelly High School Social Subjects and RMPS Faculty aims to provide stimulating and relevant learning experiences for young people by developing a sense of identity within the world both past and present. We look at every aspect of our society and inspire young people to become confident individuals, successful learners, responsible citizens and effective contributors. Social subjects reinforce excellent literacy and numeracy skills within the framework of an exciting and accessible curriculum. We support and challenge the young people in our faculty and have high expectations for them.

Teaching staff employ a variety of teaching methodologies and activities such as debate and discussion, thinking skills, paired work and co-operative learning. We try to offer activities both within and outside of the classroom.  In addition to this we are always keen to invite the local community into the department to enhance learning and teaching for example we have had visits from our Scottish Parliament and the police.

Our pupils have the opportunity to progress in History, Geography, Modern Studies and RMPS from their CfE level in S1 through to Advanced Higher. Our curriculum structure involves a Broad General Education phase from S1 to S3 followed by discrete 1 year SQA courses from S4 to S6 in our Senior Phase. The department offers a variety of courses, both academic and vocational, catering for pupils of all abilities and interests.

Our faculty consists of a team with a wide variety of interests and experiences in learning and delivering Social Subjects. We work very closely to develop plans for integrated learning within a positive environment. Staff take a proactive approach in relation to new curriculum developments and openly share experiences from their practice. There is a strong commitment to improve the provision for young people in our area and to promote achievement through learning within and out with the classroom in Social Subjects.

Our world is constantly changing in both a physical and human sense.  Geography looks at the agents that shape the landscape we live in and how humans have become an integral part of this fascinating place.  It is vital that as humans we understand how fragile the Earth can become and look at ways of protecting it in the future. 

The Geography department aims to increase your knowledge and understanding about the physical and human environment around you. You will also develop many useful skills such as mapping, gathering of data and presentation techniques. Fieldwork trips are an essential part of our courses and give you a chance to get out into the real world and see the Geography around you for yourself!

Geographical careers 

Studying Geography has a direct relevance to careers such as cartography, landscape management, emergency management, environmental consultancy and the leisure and tourism industries. However, Geography also provides you with many basic skills that are useful in a huge range of careers. More and more Geography graduates are now finding themselves in jobs that include banking, advertising, the media, business management and the armed forces. These careers require a whole range of general skills that Geography helps you develop such as the collection and analysis of data, problem solving skills and some general knowledge of the world. 

Interested in a career in involving geography?: 

Royal Geographical Society – www.rgs.org

Environmental Jobs – www.environmentjob.co.uk

University – UCAS – www.ucas.ac.uk

Royal Meteorological Society – www.metlink.org

Lantra – Environmental and Land based careers – www.lantra.co.uk/careers

Geological Society – www.geolsoc.org.uk

Studying History helps you develop the skills to question not only the events around you but also what you see and read in newspapers, the internet and in the movies.

The skills you develop will help you to express your opinion in such a way that no one will be able to disagree with you.

Careers in History

History training teacher you skills which are transferable to different employment areas; Having a History degree opens many doors, the research skills  History graduates develop at university are highly sought after.

Employment Opportunities

 History teacher

Museum Curator

Journalist

Television Presenter

Media Researcher

Law Researcher

Lawyer

Holocaust Educator

Tour Guide

Modern Studies is an exciting, relevant and constantly evolving subject. It is the social, political and economic study of local, national and international issues.

 Modern Studies is all about asking and answering 3 big questions:

What is going on in the world?

Why is it happening?

What can we do about it?

To do this, we need to develop the skills to find evidence and analyse it.

We need to be able to spot the difference between fact and opinion.

This means trying not only to make sense of the world around us, but also discover how we can change it.

The key aim of Modern Studies is to give learners an:

 Understanding of the democratic political process

Understanding of the rights and responsibilities of individuals and groups in a democratic society

Understanding of the challenges facing contemporary society and the ways in which these challenges may be addressed

Understanding of the reasons for conflict and the ways conflict can be resolved 

Awareness of the interdependency of the modern world 

Modern Studies prepares learners to play an active role in their community, to take control of their own lives and make a difference for others.

Careers

Modern Studies helps learners in aiming for careers as widespread as the police, social work, community education, the media, working with or for the council or the Health Service. It is also useful when considering careers in law or in care.

Dare you think? This has been one of great calls to intellectual arms across the centuries.Darwin promoted ideas of natural selection and Einstein shook our common sense with Relativity. Religious systems of thought too adapted and changed with passing time and the ancient religions such as Hinduism and Judaism brought forth Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Sikhism.

Religion has always had a part to play in the history of any culture, includingScotland, and studying RME is a way of appreciating how people from lots of different backgrounds contribute to one community and considers the challenges posed by these beliefs and values.

And so to return to the original question, dare you think? Have you considered your philosophy? Can you support your views? Do you understand the philosophy of others? The skills acquired in RMPS are the ultimate transferable skills because there can be no area of life- individual, family or employment- that cannot be enhanced by knowledge of humanity’s most creative thoughts.

MEET THE TEAM 

Miss S. Nicolson – Principal Teacher Curriculum

Mrs MacColl – History

Miss J. Durie- History 

Mrs C. Watt- PT Guidance and History 

Miss E. Chalmers- Modern Studies

Miss J. Taylor- Religious and Moral Education