History

Year 7 history introduces key topics, themes and skills to ensure a successful transition into Key stage 3. Topics include the ancient era from an international perspective, the Norman Conquest, the medieval period, the Tudors and the Stuarts. This will enable breadth world history and depth British study which follows the National Curriculum. Students in year 7 will be introduced and develop their historical writing through extended essay questions and source analysis skills. Students are assessed on knowledge and their writing skills throughout the year.

Students in year 8 will focus on further developing their skills and engaging with challenging content and key questions. The key topics that student learn are: The British Empire, World War One, World War Two, campaigns for equal rights in the 20^th century and 8 days that shocked the modern world all of which follows the National Curriculum. Year 8 students focus on developing their skills as historians in preparation for GCSE by completing extended writing essays, source analysis and evaluation and engagement with interpretations from Historians. Students are assessed on knowledge and their extended writing skills throughout the year.

History students in year 9 will primarily focus on starting their three year GCSE study. The Edexcel course is assessed in three papers. Students will focus on paper 2 in year 9 as it will allow a smooth transition from Key Stage 3. Nevertheless, a transition unit at the start of the year will be completed where the students are able to learn about a topic in depth and allow an opportunity to successfully shift in the GCSE mind set. Topics studied in year 9 are: Nazi Germany, Elizabeth I and Superpower relations: the Cold War.  Students will be assessed by using mock GCSE style questions and will have ample opportunities to practice, develop and consolidate their technique.

Year 10 GCSE students’ main focus will be to establish and progress their skills as historians even further. During year 10, students will learn the following topics: USA conflict at home with the civil rights movement and conflict abroad with the Vietnam War. Students will also learn about Crime and Punishment in Britain from c.1000 and a historical environment.  Students will engage in depth source analysis as well as evaluating the validity of interpretation from historians. Assessments in year 10 consist of Paper 3 and paper 1 of the Edexcel examination and previous topics learned in year 9. Exam board studied: Edexcel.

Year 11 history students’ primary focus will be to prepare for their GCSE exams. Over the course of the year, students will complete a controlled assessment which is 25% of the total grade and revise all three units for the examination. The units are: Nazi Germany, the Development of the USA and Elizabeth I which will all be reviewed and examined in GCSE style. Exam board studied: AQA.

History student in year 12 will be introduced to the A Level content and examination to become young historians. To allow a breadth of study and further historical knowledge, the key theme that students will learn is Communism in the 20^th century. The two key topics that are taught are: Russia from Lenin to Yeltsin and the German Democratic Republic. Students will learn about both topics thematically and complete a variety of challenging essays and source evaluation questions. Students will also engage with historians’ works and evaluate the validity of interpretations. Year 12 students will partake in mock examinations throughout the year to prepare them for the AS Level exams provided by the Edexcel examination board. This will allow sufficient experience of the examination process and progression to year 13.

Year 13 History students will be focussing on their final preparations for the A level exam. To achieve this the students will complete an intendent coursework essay on a topic of their choice, study a depth study on the British Empire and review Communist states in the 20^th century. Students will be provided with ample opportunities to revise and consolidate their skills for the final Edexcel examinations through mock exams of full papers and weekly essay writing.