History
Our aim at Key Stage 3 to extend and deepen our students’ knowledge and understanding of British, local and world history, inspiring them to be curious historians. Students will develop their skills to ask questions, think critically, analyse sources, interpret evidence and build their own judgements of important events and time periods.
Our History curriculum encourages students to critically engage with the world in which they live, both past and present. This critical engagement with historical sources and stimulus will improve students’ communication skills whilst deepening their empathetic understanding of the world around them.
During Year 7 and 8 students undertake two lessons of History a week. They study a range of topics linked to three overarching historical themes of everyday lives, democracy and power and conflict and cooperation.
Year 9 students undertake three lessons of History a week. They will consolidate their historical knowledge and skills further by studying in depth three countries in the 20th Century; the USSR, Britain and the USA. These will be linked to the themes they have studied in years 7 and 8.
Year 7 History
Autumn 1
What were the experiences of people living on the Silk Roads?
- Students will investigate the everyday lives of people living and travelling on the mediaeval Silk Roads
Autumn 2
What were the experiences of people living in Medieval Mali?
- Students will learn about culture and life in Medieval Mali and learn about it’s most famous ruler, Mansa Musa
Spring 1
How did power change hands in Medieval England?
- Introduction to life in 1066 in England
- Students cover the contest for the crown, the Battle of Hastings and William I’s control of England.
Spring 2
Who had power in medieval England?
- An analysis of the role of the medieval Church in mediaeval England
- Students will study Thomas Beckett, King John, the Magna Carta, The Black Death and the Peasants Revolt.
Summer 1
How did religious changes impact Tudor England?
- Students evaluate why Henry VIII broke from the Catholic Church, including motives such as power, money, religion and love.
- Students will then study some of the key figures in Tudor England, including Mary I, Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots.
- Students will question how far Elizabeth I deserves her successful reputation
Summer 2
Why did England go to war with itself?
- A study of the causes, events and consequences of the English Civil War.
Disciplinary concepts – Skills
- Knowledge and Understanding of events- demonstrate the key features and characteristics of the period studied.
- Consequences – assessing the result
- Cause – understanding the source, root or origin
- Continuity – exploring why things stay the same
- Change – discovering what changes
- Analyse, evaluate and use sources- make judgements about their content and provenance in the context of the time they were written.
- Significance – understanding the importance
- Similarities and differences – comparing things that are the same/different