Curriculum

History

Our department aims to:

• Guide pupils in learning facts about the past
• Promote active learning and enquiry
• Expand pupils' knowledge of local, national and international communities
• Develop the skills of the historian, particularly evidence handling skills, and enrich pupils' educational experience
• Create an awareness of evidence and key historical concepts
• Provide an appreciation of change and continuity
• Cultivate an understanding of cause, historical empathy and chronology

History up to year 9

History is taught as a separate subject throughout the school within the faculty of Humanities. At this level pupils are taught in form groups. Pupils will cover a number of topics whilst developing the following skills

• Chronological understanding
• Knowledge and understanding of events, people and changes in the past
• Historical interpretation
• Historical enquiry
• Organisation and communication

Some examples of topics covered up to year 9 are:The Roman Empire, Medieval England, Early Modern Britain - The Reformation, Tudors, English Civil War, England 1750 - 1900 - The Industrial Revolution, Era of the 2 World War, Civil Rights

 

GCSE and 'A'Level History

GCSE SYLLABUS

At GCSE the AQA Modern History (B) syllabus is followed. At this level, History is an option although a Humanities subject must make up a part of any pupil's GCSE selection. The course objectives of GCSE History include an understanding of the nature and use of historical evidence, and the development of essential skills such as the handling of source materials, detection of bias, and the ability to analyse and construct a logical argument.

Topics covered include:

• Russia 1917-41
• Germany 1918-39
• The Second World War
• The U.S.A. and U.S.S.R. as World Superpowers And coursework study units on
• Britain and the First World War

AS AND 'A'LEVEL

At AS and A Level the Edexcel syllabus is followed. This is made up of 6 discrete topics covering the C19th and C20th centuries. They include:

• Votes for Women
• Italian Unification
• Nazi Germany
• Britain and Decolonisation
• The Bourbons
• Chartism

Many students continue from AS to 'A' Level and a large number of girls choose to do History at university.

Teaching Staff:

• Mrs G Lyne
• Mr B Richards
• Mrs R Lee-Johnson
• Mrs M Richards

THE PLACE AND IMPORTANCE OF HISTORY IN THE CURRICULUM

'History fires pupils' curiosity about the past in Britain and the wider world. Pupils consider how the past influences the present, what past societies were like, how these societies organised their politics, and what beliefs and cultures influenced people's actions. As they do this, pupils develop a chronological framework for their knowledge of significant events and people. They see the diversity of human experience, and understand more about themselves as individuals and members of society. What they learn can influence their decisions about personal choices, attitudes and values. In history, pupils find evidence, weigh it up and reach their own conclusions. To do this they need to be able to research, sift through evidence, and argue for their point of view - skills that are prized in adult life.' SOURCE: National Curriculum documents