History

In KS3 students will develop their knowledge and understanding of key issues and events on a local, national, and international scale, from the ancient world to the modern. It is structured chronologically, and Students commence their learning in Year 7 studying the ‘Rise and Fall of History’. Students will cover all aspects of society from the Ancient Greeks to Medieval Britain. Year 8 History focuses on ‘Power and People’, students will study themes such as empire and monarchy, in addition to covering key individuals from the following time periods: Pre-Colonial Africa, The Tudor, & Stuart eras. Year 9 History follows the theme of the ‘Product of Progress’, commencing the academic year with a study of the Industrial Revolution in Britain. Students will study Nazi Germany and the Holocaust, as well as the dropping of the Atomic Bomb leading into the Cold War. Throughout the academic year, Year 9 students will assess whether these topics showcase progress.  

History is optional at Key Stage Four and is a popular choice with students. The following is key information regarding the course. 

Exam board: 

AQA GCSE (9-1) 

Exam Information: 

Paper 1  

Period Study  

Germany 1890 1945: Democracy and dictatorship Period Study –  

Wider world depth study 

Conflict and tension: The Inter-War Years, 1918 - 1939  

Paper 2 

Thematic study 

Health and the people: c1000 to the present day  

British depth study 

Norman England:  c1066 – c1100  

The History department will undertake a trip to a castle, a battle site or a cathedral to support GCSE studies.  The venue will depend on the chosen site of the exam board on an annual basis.

Employers value the research, analytical, teamwork and communication skills that history students develop throughout their degree.   Those who study history should be practised in applying lessons of the past to help resolve problems of the present and have the ability to apply an analytical mind set to all kinds of situations and challenges. These problem-solving and analytical skills are relevant in just about any industry which has a focus on current societies and future developments, particularly in the fields of business, politics, and academia. 

Year 7: 

• The history department is an inaugural element of annual battlefield trips to the Ypres Salient and the Somme. (Topic – WWI Literature, studied in English Plus) 

Year 8: 

• The history department is an inaugural element of annual battlefield trips to the Ypres Salient and the Somme. (Topic – WWI Literature, studied in English Plus) 

Year 9:  

• The National Holocaust Centre and Museum (Topic – The Holocaust) 

KS4: 

• George Marshall Medical Museum (Topic – AQA Health & the People) 

Year 7 & 8 Trip to Belgium, 2022

Year 10 Trip to the George Marshall Medical Museum, 2023

Useful websites and books:

• AQA: GCSE History
• BBC Bitesize: History
• AQA: GCSE History assessment resources
  Past Papers Pupils only need;
  • The Normans
  • Health and the People - c1100 to present day.
  • Conflict and Tension – 1918-1939
  • Germany – 1890 – 1945

Reading Lists

• History Reading List

In Year 9, students benefit from an additional Humanities curriculum. This intends to strengthen their knowledge and skills across the individual disciplines of History, Geography, and Religious Education. Through a diverse and engaging curriculum, we aim to develop students' knowledge, critical thinking, oracy, and cultural awareness. This also plays a vital role in promoting and offering enriching experiences that prepare our students to become informed, thoughtful, and active global citizens.