History

Topic Overview

The academic year 2024–2025 topic overview can be accessed by clicking the link below.

History Topic Overview

Intent Statement

The study of history ignites students’ curiosity about the past in Britain and the wider world. Through finding out about how and why the world, our country, culture and local community have developed over time, students understand how the past influences the present. History enables students to develop a context for their growing sense of identity and a chronological framework for their knowledge of significant events and people. What they learn through history can influence their decisions about personal choices, attitudes and values. Our aim is to inspire and motivate students to be curious about the past whilst providing appropriate support and/or stretch. This includes being able to study multiple viewpoints before making a considered judgement and being able think critically about the information they are presented with. In a world where learners are gaining more and more information from unreliable sources we believe this is a vital skill for their active engagement with British society. We also wish to create learners who are able to apply these skills independently and with confidence, both in the classroom and ultimately when leaving us in KS4 or KS5.

Curriculum

KS3

Students are taught History in mixed ability key stage groups and have 1×50 minute lesson per week. In Key stage 3 work is adapted and personalised to meet the needs of each individual pupil and there is a focus on literacy skills through the History curriculum. Further we aim to develop their interest in the past. Students are introduced to source based skills to build upon their understanding that there are varied interpretations of the past through units such as the Romans and Medieval Realms.

KS4

In Years 10 and 11, students are taught in mixed ability groups. Students will have up to 2×60 minute lessons per week. We follow multi syllabi but when a student does not have a home school, we use AQA GCSE syllabus with units which include:

• Paper 1:  – Germany, 1890–1945: Democracy and dictatorship

              – Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945–1972

• Paper 2:  – Britain: Migration, empires and the people: c790 to the present day  

              – Norman England, c1066-1100