History

In years 7 & 8 students study two thematic units. The aim of the curriculum is to encourage a curiosity about the world around them, to encourage students to ask questions and to use evidence to make up their own minds. There is an emphasis on collaborative learning and developing students’ communication skills.

Living, Working and Travelling

Students study aspects of social history with in depth units on life in medieval times and the Industrial Revolution. The aim is to understand what has changed and what has stayed the same. We consider how Britain shaped the world through the British Empire and how Britain has been shaped by the arrival of migrants from all over the world. There are in-depth studies on the changing relationships of England, Ireland and Wales and the slave trade.

Fighting, Ruling and Rebelling

Students study how the balance of power has shifted from the absolute control of medieval monarchs to the power of Parliament today with in- depth units on Elizabeth I and the English Civil War. We also look at how different people have fought for equal rights – the suffragettes, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela. As well as looking at significant battles and wars in British History students are also asked to consider what makes an event significant and to decide what we ought to be studying. There are in depth units on medieval warfare and The First World War.

The aim of the curriculum is to encourage a curiosity about the world around them, to encourage the students to ask questions and to use evidence to make up their own minds. There is an emphasis on collaborative learning and developing students’ communication skills.

GCSE History

In Year 11 students can opt to take History GCSE. This is a modern world course comprising of 4 units. The aim of this course is to develop effective independent learners with enquiring minds. There is an emphasis on developing students’ ability to investigate the past using historical sources, to recognise that the past has been represented in a variety of ways and to communicate their knowledge in interesting and creative ways.

The Cold War

Topics include the Berlin Blockade, the spread of Communism, the Hungarian Uprising, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the roles of Reagan and Gorbachev and the fall of the Berlin Wall.

USA 1919-41

Topics include the introduction of Prohibition, the rise of gangsters, the Jazz Age, the Great Depression and Roosevelt’s New Deal.

Britain 1931- 51

Topics include the Jarrow March and the Depression, the impact of the Second World War and the reconstruction of post-war Britain including the setting up of the Welfare State.

USA 1945-70

The work done on this unit is for the Controlled Assessment. Students will research one topic chosen from: the impact of the Vietnam War; the causes of student protest; the changes in the position of women and the rise and impact of the Civil Rights Movement. They will then have to consider a range of representations of this period in history to choose the ‘best’ one.

The aim of this course is to develop effective independent learners with enquiring minds. There is an emphasis on developing students’ ability to investigate the past using historical sources, to recognise that the past has been represented in a variety of ways and to communicate their knowledge in interesting and creative ways.

Karen Grant is the Deputy Headteacher as well as Head of History. She grew up in London before heading north to study History at Lancaster University. She has worked at a number of schools across the country as well as teaching and working in America, Romania, Tanzania and South Africa.