Curriculum Intent
The History department aims to empower young people to be curious and question the world around them. Using the lens of History and its associated skills, we teach students to reach their own justifiable answers to the questions that are important to them as young adults about the nature of the society they will inherit. It is our ambition, as a History department, to strike a balance between understanding Historical chronology and guiding young adults in the development of skills to become critical thinkers and lifelong learners. We have structured our curriculum by historical periods whilst still offering a focus on theme at specific points in the year.
The History curriculum is underpinned by a set of skills which the department believe will best support our young people to engage with History and develop as Historians. These skills, combined with topics, form the basis of our assessment programme with each skill developing in complexity and challenge over time. Students of all abilities and needs demonstrate success and progress.
The History department have accounted for the context and challenge of our school community in considering the topics for study. We offer a broad, diverse and progressive curriculum which allows students to challenge their own mind-sets and pre-conceptions of the world, offering them powerful knowledge to face society. We create a learning environment where students find enjoyment of their History studies, feel respected and safe enough to develop their voices, and become their BEST selves.
KS3, Years 7, 8 & 9 History
Throughout Key Stage Three, students will attend four History lessons over the two week timetable. Students will build an understanding of History through a chronological approach starting with the Roman occupation of Britain in Year 7 to modern political themes in Year 9. However, we also begin and end each year with a thematic study to broaden students’ cultural capital. You can view our Key Stage Three journey below.
Our Key Stage Three curriculum has been designed to develop our students’ sense of enquiry and investigation through the selected topics and the skills chosen to complement each topic. These skills have been colour coded on the Keys Stage Three journey below.
The History curriculum at Key Stage Three will support our learners whether or not they choose to study History at GCSE or beyond. However, the curriculum has been created as a journey to prepare our students in their GCSE studies through our selection of topics and skills. These topics and skills reflect the Key Stage Four curriculum so students will be well equipped for success when selecting History as a GCSE option.
The History department practises the Thinking principles of the school, using them to support our students to develop critical thinking. We employ debate, source work, role play and written work. As a department, we use metacognitive strategies, including recall and review, to ensure students can build on prior learning and develop a deep understanding of the skills employed in History. This creates confident learners, able to explore and explain historical and thematic links.
To further support all students, including SEND, as a department we focus on effective teaching principles that includes sequencing History topics logically, building on prior knowledge through themes and chronology, our sequencing model is made explicit to all students. All students will experience a high quality curriculum and all students will be expected to complete the same learning journey, but support and challenge will be provided where necessary to allow all students to access the curriculum appropriately for their needs.
