The purpose of the History curriculum is to create confident citizens, aware of the world they live in and how it was formed. We aim to encourage enthusiastic and engaged students who have a love of history as a subject and an academic discipline. History equips students with high-level thinking skills, and they will become critical thinkers who are able to evaluate evidence and historical interpretations. Assumptions about the past are challenged, and through the framework of enquiry questions, students will build up a picture of the past that informs their understanding of the world so that the students will gain an understanding of the changing nature of power, economics and society. This includes the inter-connectivity of key historical catalysts and factors for change, such as religion, power and money. Second order concepts, such as causation and significance, are embedded into the curriculum. By exploring these themes and concepts, students will gain historical empathy, cultural capital and a rounded understanding of Britain and the wider world, including the development of British values. 

We continue to create a representative curriculum looking at history from the perspective of the marginalised and in a wider geographical scope in order to challenge cultural and historical misconceptions and develop an empowering historical understanding. Lessons will promote a culture of challenge, providing clear explanations, modelling, scaffolding, and targeted questioning and feedback to improve learners’ outcomes. The department maintains a focus on literacy across all key stages on the use of appropriate substantive terminology while also developing the use of literacy through meta language, from the use of linking expressions towards sustained explanation and extended essay writing. EAL resources are adapted to suit the needs of each class and reflect best practice. 

The History curriculum had been adapted significantly, rising to the challenges of Covid19 and ensuring consistent student progress. We include many interleaving activities in our lessons and as home learning tasks in order to revise and secure understanding of previous learning, helping students to develop a well-rounded understanding. We have also introduced blended learning in lessons to ensure students are able to engage, regardless of whether they are isolating or not. Factual knowledge is embedded through the use of a variety of revision techniques, such as online flashcards and classroom quizzes. We develop students’ cultural capital through enrichment, visits to museums and debating clubs. Lessons include scholarship to highlight historians’ views and claims about the past whereby students critically evaluate these interpretations. Moreover, engaging with these interpretations consolidates students’ skills of analysis and evaluation. 

KS3 topics mirror the National Curriculum, to give them a grounding in historical concepts largely through the study of British history and local history, supported by a coverage of the wider context. This includes chronological understanding and the embedding of historical skills, useful for the promotion of lifelong learning. Our students will be given the skills and confidence to evaluate evidence, present an argument, and understand contrasting points of view. Students will develop historical empathy and a deeper understanding of perspective by engaging with change and continuity through time over the period of 1000 years. Students gain both a depth and breadth of historical knowledge through the variety of units we cover. Students gain transferable skills which set them in good stead to do well with further learning. KS4 and KS5 students will have regular exam question practice, supported by modelling and scaffolding, teacher feedback and ‘green pen’ marking. The A Level prepares students to move successfully to aspirational pathways, through research, extended writing, seminar skills and extended evaluation of sources in context. 

Key Stage 3
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9

Key Stage 4
Year 10
Year 11

Key Stage 5
Year 12 & 13

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10

Year 11

Year 12

Year 13