History

Faculty Leader: Mr M Hawkins

Subject Leader: Mr N Dawkins

Curriculum Intent

As the philosopher George Santayana said “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Thus, we have three main aims for our vision in the History Department.

Students should view history as an exciting and interesting subject so that all are encouraged to develop a lifelong love of learning. Members of staff aim to generate an interest in the past that will remain with young people for life.
We wish to impart knowledge and understanding of the past, within the United Kingdom and of the wider world. In this way, students can develop an understanding of how the world we live in has been shaped by the past.
Finally, it is our aim that students continuously develop life skills. Thinking, evaluating, analysing, empathizing and communicating; in order for students to develop a skill set for their future. There are very few jobs that do not require these skills, even the ones not yet made.

History Curriculum Plans

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Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9)

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What will students study?

The work covered throughout Key Stage 3 aims to give students an understanding of how developments from Medieval era to the end of the 20th Century helped shape the economy, society, culture and political structure of Britain. Opportunities are also offered to study developments in Europe and the non-European world. Key themes run throughout the course with pupils developing contextual knowledge of the time periods which are revisited in thematic modules at the end of year 8 and year 9.

Students will be expected to build up a number of key skills to allow them a deeper understanding of the topics they study. They are:

Chronological understanding
Cultural, ethnic and religious diversity
Change and continuity
Cause and consequence
Significance
Interpretation

Throughout their study of various units students will be given the opportunity to demonstrate, in a variety of ways, the level they have reached in each of these skill areas.

Year 7

Unit 1 - Where have I come from?

This unit begins through the building of key skills students will need to be successful historians at our school. As the unit develops, students will study the elements of local and family history so that they are given the opportunity to develop research skills.

Unit 2 - How was power challenged in Tudor period?

In this unit students are introduced to the major political, religious and social challenges to authority in Tudor period. Particular attention is paid to the methods of control those in power chose to employ in order to reign over the subjects of the nation.

Unit 3 - Would you have felt safe in the UK in the past?

Students in this unit will investigate the threats to the political, social and economic order within the British Isles during the Stuart era. The rise of religious turmoil alongside the challenges to royal authority is explored and the impact these have on society.

Year 8

Unit 1 - What was the impact of the Industrial Revolution on Britain?

Students are given the chance to discover the effects of the Industrial Revolution in Britain. Focus will be placed around changes in the workplace and housing. The unit will then be developed to explore the changes in technology and the significance of these changes for life in Britain.

Unit 2 - What was the impact of empires on Communities?

This unit will reveal to students the effects of Britain’s desire to be a global power had on its subjects. Students will discover how this global power was built and the political, social and economic impacts the British Empire had on the world.

Unit 3 - Where have my rights come from?

In this unit students will study the impact political movements have had throughout history on different nations. The main focus for the unit centres on Britain and America in the past so that pupils can use their contextual knowledge to investigate where rights in the modern world have originated.

Year 9

Unit 1 - How did people suffer during WW1?

During this unit students will learn about how and why Britain went to war on a global scale in 1914. As the unit develops, students will cover aspects of World War One including trench life, weapons and the peace treaty that was implemented at the end of the war.

Unit 2 - How did Total war affect civilians?

This unit will reveal to students the effects of modern warfare on everyday life. Students will learn about evacuation and the Holocaust which both left a lasting impression on British and European society as a whole.

Unit 3 - What has been the impact of technology on communities in the last 1000 years?

This last unit will reveal to students how powerful technology has altered the lives of citizens in the last 1000 years. The different periods of history pupils have studied throughout KS3 will be investigated so that the impact of technology on people’s lives in the past millennium can be assessed.

How will students be assessed?

Assessment of students work is of the following types:
Ongoing through observation, interaction between teacher and student
Student self-review and peer review
Assessment of homework/class work
Unit assessments

Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11)

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Teacher in Charge: Mr N Dawkins

What course do students follow?

GCSE HISTORY 9-1 Edexcel

Specification code: 1HIO

What will students study?

Pupils will study five topics with three exams in year 11.

Development Study - Crime and Punishment through time

This study will focus on various crimes throughout history and how crime has evolved. Topics such as witchcraft, highway robbery and suffragettes will be covered. Students will also discover the punishments criminals have had to endure throughout history such as being hung, drawn and quartered, spending time in the pillory or even having limbs chopped off.

Historic environment - Whitechapel, 1870-1900: crime, policing and the inner city

This topic investigates the living conditions in Industrial Britain and how this impacted on crime and punishment in the period. Policing methods and the infamous Jack the Ripper crimes will be investigated using historical sources to highlight the issues that Industrialisation caused in Britain during this period.

In Depth Study - Germany 1918-39

This study will focus on the huge problems Germany faced after World War One before moving on to cover how Hitler and the Nazis rose to power. The course then focus’ on how people’s lives in Germany changed and the impact the Nazis had on people’s everyday lives.

British Depth Study - Anglo Saxon and Norman England 1060-88

This module highlights the changes and continuities that happened in England during and after the Norman invasion. How William I took control and tried to tackle resistance is covered as well as the changes made to Anglo-Saxon life, culture and architecture.

Period study - The American west 1835-1895

This study will focus on the expansion of the USA into Native American territory during the 19th century. Topics focus on Native American beliefs, development of settlements and conflicts that arose between Native Americans and the settlers. The course reflects on the impact of settlement and how the new settlers changed the USA.

Details of Examination

There will be three examination papers on the above topics.

Paper 1: Development Study - Crime and Punishment through time & Historic environment - Whitechapel, 1870-1900: crime, policing and the inner city- 1hr 15 mins

Paper 2: Period study - The American west 1835-1895 & British Depth Study - Anglo Saxon and Norman England 1060-88 – 1hr 45min

Paper 3: In Depth Study - Germany 1918-39 1 hr 20 mins

All pupils will be entered for the same examination papers.

There is no coursework element to this study