History

The history department is committed to promoting students’ understanding and appreciation of events, forces and ideas that have shaped the world in which they live, and to allow them to make realistic decisions based on evidence and information about the world.

Students are encouraged to question what they read, to reject the mythology, which sometimes surrounds the past, and to acquire the skills that will enable them to make judgements based on evidence.

Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 & 9)

KS3 – History Curriculum Map

KS3 – History Assessment Map

In Years 7, 8 and 9 students are studying key themes:

Year 7: The importance of the Silk Road and the Ming Dynasty in China. The significance of the African Kingdom of Mali. They will also learn about medieval England paying particular attention to themes such as conflict and co-operation, power and democracy and everyday lives.

Year 8: Aspects of Britain 1500-1950s including the Reformation, Industrial Revolution, Empire, Transatlantic Slave trade, Black American civil rights as well as Black British rights. Students will be paying particular attention to themes such as conflict and co-operation, power and democracy and everyday lives.

Year 9: Aspects of 20th Century including the First World War, the Second World War, Genocide and the Rise of Terrorism. Students will be paying particular attention to themes such as conflict and co-operation, power and democracy and everyday lives.

Key Stage 4 GCSE (Years 10 & 11) Edexcel (1H10)

KS4 – History Curriculum Map

Students will have the opportunity to study the following topics:

British Thematic Study with Historic environment: Medicine in Britain 1250- present including The British sector of the Western Front (Paper 1: 30%)
Period Study: Superpower relations and the Cold War 1941-91 (Paper 2: 20%)
British Depth Study: Early Elizabethan England 1558-1588 (Paper 2: 20%)
Modern Depth Study: Weimar and Nazi Germany (Paper 3: 30%)

Key Stage 5 A Level (Years 12 & 13) OCR

KS5 – History Curriculum Map

Students will have the opportunity to study the following topics:

Year 12:

British period study and Enquiry: The Early Tudors. This module covers the reigns of Henry VII to Mary I (25%)
Non-British period study: The French Revolution and the rule of Napoleon 1774-1815 (15%)

Year 13:

Thematic Study and historical interpretations: Russia and its Rulers, 1855-1964 (40%)
Non-exam assessment: The 100-year topic based essay independently researched essay of 3-4000 words (20%)