History

Years 7, 8, 9

Students complete a 1000 year study over the course of KS3, learning about British and World events from 1066 through to 2000. This 1000 year study covers a mix of conflicts, power, movement and social effects. Throughout KS3 we investigate a number of key questions; these are included below. 

Year 7

• How did invaders shape Britain before 1066?
• What impact did William the conqueror have on England? 
• What were the challenges of Medieval Britain?
• What was it like to live under the Tudor Monarchs?
• How did the French and English Revolutions impact society? 
• We also look at two thematic studies. On the fight for freedom where we follow the struggle from slavery to the Civil Rights Movement.

Year 8

• How did Britain change during the Industrial Revolution and what impact did this have?
• Was the British Empire a force for good?
• What was World War One like and why should it be remembered?
• How did women fight for the vote?
• What were the turning points in World War Two? 
• How did the Holocaust happen and why is it important to study? 
• How did post-war Britain change?

Year 9

• In preparation for starting their History GCSE students complete complete a study looking at the Russian Revolution of 1917 and life under Stalin. As well as looking at the Creation of the Metropolitan Police, and the treatment of migrants in Britain.  
• Students then begin their GCSE studies by studying the history of medicine from 1200-1990. 

Year 9 have the optional visit to the World War One Battlefields in Belgium in the summer term to enrich their knowledge of Medicine on the Western Front.

What skills students develop

Students spend their time in Key Stage 3 developing the 6 historical skills of Causation, Interpretation, Diversity, Significance, Change over Time and the use of historical sources. They also learn to empathise with people in the past, to debate historical issues and to learn about how the world is like it is today. The literary nature of the subject also means their spelling, reading, writing and communication skills will improve too.

How students are assessed

Students complete a Tri-weekly every half-term, this helps to develop students knowledge and understanding. Tri-weeklies may also be presentations on project work students have completed for homework. Key Stage Three students will also complete a Key Assessment once a term which will assess key historical skills they have been developing within their unit of work.  

Homework

Homework is set once a fortnight in year 7 and 8, across the half-term this homework takes the form of a homework booklet where students are able to select at least one of their homework’s each half-term whilst others are directed by their teacher. Students are also given project homework’s to complete over the half term, this includes family history research, research on a World War One Soldier, and creating their own evacuation pack.  

How parents can help

Parents can help by checking your child’s Satchel One and making sure homework and independent study is up to date. Encouraging your child to visit museums, watch historical TV programmes or do some extra reading is also valuable.

Board and Exam Details

All students complete the Edexcel History GCSE syllabus.

Link to course specification

Link to Personal Learning Checklists

Course Outline

Studying history at GCSE encourages students to show an understanding of events in the past; being able to explain their causes, their impact and their importance. Students will gain a good insight into history spanning from medieval times through to the end of the twentieth century; as well as covering a mix of British, European and world history.  With the analytical, writing, debate and detective skills learned on this course, students will be prepared for a huge range of careers in law, politics, public sector, business, marketing, journalism, economics, teaching, academia, insurance, social research, archaeology and curation (museums, galleries, archives and libraries).

Themes covered include;

• British thematic study- focusing on Medicine through Time- c1000-present. Included in this, a study of the British sector of the Western Front, focusing on injuries, treatment and trenches.
• Early Elizabethan England, 1558-88
• Superpower Relations and the Cold War 1941-91
• Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918-1939

The ‘British Thematic study’ focuses on the change in Medicine Through Time, ranging from the use of medicine in medieval England, and attempts to treat the Black Death, right through to the modern era and the impact of the NHS. Students specifically look at injuries and treatment on the Western Front during World War One.

The ‘British Depth Study’ will focus on Early Elizabethan England, from the challenges Elizabeth faced as a new queen both at home and abroad to what it was like to live in Elizabethan England.

In the ‘Period Study’, Super power relations and the Cold War, students will learn about the rising tension and rivalry between the USA and the USSR post World War 2 and explore the ways in which they competed from the Space race to nuclear weapons and how close they came to war.

In addition to this, students will study ‘Weimar and Nazi Germany 1918-1939 focusing on the problems Germany faced after WW1 as well as how Hitler came to power along with examining Hitler’s control and dictatorship of Germany during the 1930s. People who study history are fearless explorers of the past. They investigate past politics, societies, cultures, languages, health, art, education, money, conflicts and more. Students will learn to look at how things have developed over time and connect the dots to understand how we got to where we are today.

What skills students develop

History students will develop their thinking skills: such as problem solving, empathy, source analysis, understanding causes/consequences of events and evaluating differing interpretations of the past. They also develop an understanding of chronology and gain an understanding of the events that have shaped our world. History is crucial in supporting good literacy skills of spelling and written communication.

How students are assessed

Exam  (1.25 hrs)	British Thematic Study	30% of the qualification
Exam  (1.75 hrs)	British Depth Study and Period Study	40% of the qualification
Exam  (1.2 hrs)	Modern Depth Study - Weimar and Nazi Germany	30% of the qualification

Homework

Students are given homework every week and are expected to spend around an hour completing it. This can take the form of further research, completing classwork notes, or students are set GCSE exam practise questions for homework, which are marked according to exam board marking criteria. Their work books or folders are also regularly checked.

How parents can help

Parents can help by ensuring that homework is completed and that their child is organised and bringing their file to each lesson. Any visits or TV programmes that have links to the GCSE course should be encouraged.

Extra-curricular Activities

History runs a comprehensive Extended Day timetable with targeted sessions. These run every night from Tuesday-Thursday. We also run a High Performers History club every fortnight which includes virtual sessions with the National Archives at Kew. We are introducing a History High Performers trip to the Old Operating Theatre in London for a lecture on Victorian medicine as well as a trip to the Imperial War Museum for year 10 to learn about WWI, the Cold War and to visit the Holocaust exhibition.