History
Intent
History is a subject that forms the bedrock of our understanding of the culture in which we live as well as the wider world around us. The content covered gives students the opportunity to explore issues at a local, national and international level from the ancient era through to the twentieth century. This range of history offers the opportunity to explore different peoples’ perspectives on issues and events and think critically about the world in which they live. Our curriculum is sequenced to give students a broad understanding of the chronological development of British history, as well as being able to make links to other societies, cultures and world events.
Understanding key concepts within History, such as significance and causation and consequence, unlock the door for students to be able to ask leading questions, analyse information and convey their views in a methodical and structured way. These skills are honed and developed progressively through the curriculum to create historians confident in communicating their views, both in writing and orally. Each topic is framed around a challenging historical question or topic which is linked to a key historical concept. Lessons mirror this, with key questions forming the basis for each topic. This will ensure students access and apply high level vocabulary with increasing rigour over their time in history classrooms.
The History curriculum offered immerses students in a range of cultures and engenders an enquiring and critical outlook on the world, with skills that can be applied in other subjects and in their future endeavours.
| Vision | Key Concepts and Skills | |
| Year 7 | To explore change and continuity in English and later British History before 1066, the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period and the influence of the wider world on the country, looking at themes including power, beliefs, ideas, society, empire, conflict and the economy. |
Students will begin to develop key historical skills such as causation, consequence and significance and will develop an awareness of how history can be interpreted differently. Students will develop an understanding of concepts such as invasion and conquest, conflict, monarchy and democracy. |
| Year 8 | To explore the impact of Empire and the industrial revolution on Britain and the wider world, looking at themes including power, rights, beliefs, ideas, society, empire, conflict and the economy. Explore the impact of industrial change on the lives of ordinary people and the development of democracy and civil rights. |
Students will continue to develop key historical skills such as causation, consequence and significance and will develop an awareness of how history can be interpreted differently. Students will focus on the concept of change and the impact of change. Students will develop an understanding of concepts such as empire, enslavement, conflict, monarchy, civil rights and democracy. |
| Year 9 | To explore the impact of modern conflict on Britain and the wider world, looking at themes including power, rights, beliefs, ideas, society, empire, conflict and the economy. To explore the concept of thematic change in migration and medicine to develop understanding of the key drivers of historical change and the concept of change and continuity. |
Students will continue to develop key historical skills such as causation, consequence and significance and will develop an awareness of how history can be interpreted differently. Students will focus on the concept of change and the impact of change. As year 9 progresses students will have the opportunity to develop the skills needed for GCSE History and will develop an understanding of thematic change. Students will develop an understanding of concepts such as conflict, tension , terrorism, persecution, migration, medicine and the concepts of progress and regression |
| Year 10 | To explore the methods of, rebellion to and impact of Norman rule on England. To explore the development of Germany in the period 1918 to 1939 and develop an understanding of why the Weimer Republic faced challenges and why the Nazis rose to power. To explore the nature of the Nazi dictatorship in terms on control and impact. Students will look at concepts and themes such as democracy, dictatorship, rebellion, control and change. |
Students will develop their understanding of key historical skills such as causation, significance, change and continuity. Students will particularly focus on evaluative skills and evaluating differing interpretations of historical events. Students will develop an understanding of key concepts such as democracy, constitution, political spectrum, ideology, rebellion, conflict and control, persecution and anti-Semitism. |
| Year 11 | To explore the impact of modern conflict on the world during the Cold War period. To explore the reasons for growing tension between East and West, the cause of the Cold War and why it came to an end in 1991. To explore key concepts such as democracy and dictatorship, communism and capitalism, crisis, arms race and détente. |
Students will develop their understanding of key historical skills such as causation, significance, change and continuity. Students will particularly focus on the concepts of consequence and significance (both in terms of short and long term). Students will develop an understanding of key concepts such as democracy, constitution, political spectrum, ideology, rebellion, communism, capitalism, crisis, invasion, repression, détente and geo politics. |
| Year 12 | To explore the social, economic and political development of Russia 1855-1917 in terms of the growing challenges to the Tsarist system and to understand the causes of the revolutions of 1917. To explore the development of Britain in the period 1950 to 1979 in terms of the political context of the post-war consensus and the changing role of Britain in the world. To explore the impact of social and economic change on society and people and to explore why the post-war consensus came to an end in 1979. |
Students will develop their understanding of key historical skills such as causation, significance, change and continuity. Students will hone and develop the extended writing skills that they have developed over years 7 to 11; refine their evaluative and analytical skills and apply these to both contemporary evidence and academic interpretations. Students will develop an understanding of key concepts such as democracy, political spectrum, ideology, communism, capitalism, socialism, autocracy, emancipation, revolution, consensus, activism and conservatism. |
| Year 13 | To explore the political, economic and social development of the USSR in the period 1917-1964 in terms of the nature of the Leninist and Stalinist state and the extent to which they represented change and continuity. To explore the impact of communist ideology on the economy, governance, control and the lives of ordinary citizens. To explore the reasons for Soviet victory in the Second World War and the development of the post-war Soviet state. To explore the development of Britain in the period 1979-2007 focusing on the impact of Thatcherism and New Labour on the economy, social change and Britain’s place in the world. |
Students will develop their understanding of key historical skills such as causation, significance, change and continuity. Students will hone and develop the extended writing skills that they have developed over years 7 to 11 refine their evaluative and analytical skills and apply these to both contemporary evidence and academic interpretations.
Students will develop an understanding of key concepts such ideology, communism, capitalism, socialism, autocracy, repression, dissent and consensus, activism, Thatcherism, terror and multi-culturalism. |
Implementation