History is a foundation subject in Key Stages 3 and an option subject in Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5. The department is well resourced, with every classroom having an interactive whiteboard.
Key Stage 3
The Learning Programme at Key Stage 3 is focused on the key concepts of the national curriculum for History:
The pupils will develop a range of essential skills in the following areas:
1. Historical enquiry
2. Using evidence
3. Communicating about the past
KS3 Programme of Study
Year 7 (Three lessons, each of one hour, over two weeks)
Aspects of British and European History, 1066 – 1603, such as the Norman Conquest, Life in the Middle Ages and the Tudors.
Year 8 (Three lessons, each of one hour, over two weeks)
Aspects of British and World History, 1603 – 1900, such as the English Civil War, the Industrial Revolution and the French Revolution.
Year 9 (One lesson, of one hour, each week)
Aspects of Twentieth Century World History, such as the World Wars, European Dictatorships in the 1920s and 1930s and the Cold War.
Assessment
Assessment is undertaken on a regular basis to monitor the quality of the students’ work, their rate of progress and areas of weakness.
Most work will be assessed in accordance with the Department’s Marking Policy.
One assignment each term is assessed against Key Stage levels.
At the end of each year students will be assessed according to the National Curriculum levels of attainment.
Key Stage 4
We study the AQA History B specification. The course has three components;
Unit 1. International Relations 1900-1991, covering topics such as the causes of World War One, the League of Nations and the role of Hitler in causing World War Two. (37.5% of award, assessed by examination).
Unit 2. Twentieth Century Depth Studies, such as USA 1919-1941, Germany 1919-1939 and the Vietnam War. (37.5% of award, assessed by examination).
Unit 3. Controlled Assessment using sources of evidence to examine the role of Britain in the World Wars. (25% of award, assessed in controlled conditions in class).
