Welcome to the History department…

Are you interested in people? Do you like to work out puzzles by piecing together the evidence? Do you want to find out about events which have changed the world? Do you like to get inside people‘s minds and work out what makes them tick? History is interesting, challenging and fun! It also helps you to make sense of most other subjects.

History helps you to develop skills to look beyond the headlines, to ask questions and to express your own opinions. Just think: if you didn‘t ever study history you would never truly understand the world we live in.

Key Stage 3 Key Stage 4 Home Learning Opportunities Gifted & Talented Opportunities Useful Links

Key Stage 3

Units of work, Grouping of students, assessment and expected standards

Aims:

To enable our students to:-

- recognise the value and importance of learning about the past,

- understand how the past influences the present,

- appreciate difference in society and the world around them,

- develop the ability to put forward reasoned arguments,

- weigh sources of information and judge them critically,

- enjoy history beyond the classroom.

This aims contribute towards their ability to enjoy learning and gain a sense of achievement. We believe that studying history helps pupils to become well rounded individuals able to make a positive contribution to society.

Units of work, grouping of students, assessment and expected standards

History is one of three subject areas that form the Humanities department along with Geography and RE. Pupils are taught Humanities in year 7 and then in year 8 and 9 each subject is taught separately with emphasis given to citizenship and other cross-curricular links.

KS3 pupils are taught in tutor groups & KS4 in mixed ability groupings and all History lessons are taught by specialist history teachers

Year 7 Humanities – 6x60mins a fortnight

Year 8 History – 2x60mins a fortnight

Year 9 History – 3x60mins a fortnight

GCSE – 5x60mins a fortnight

History teaching at Pilton follows the school format of three part lessons (starter, main, plenary) with clear learning objectives shared with pupils.

The department has introduced a version of Bloom’s Taxonomy called the History Brainometer which underpins our approach to history at KS3.

Teachers use a variety of learning styles (VAK) to enable all pupils to access the curriculum and make progress.

The following topics are taught at KS3

Year 7

What is History?

Why did William win the Battle of Hastings? (assessed)

Life in Medieval England

Heroes research project (Assessed)

How has Barnstaple changed over time?

Year 8

Timeline 1066-2000 – turning points in history(Assessed)

Murder mystery & Guy Fawkes- (assessed)

Year 8 Research project

Why did Britain abolish the Slave Trade? (assessed)

Year 9

Was Britain really ‘great’ in the nineteenth Century?

World War I (assessed)

What was life like on the Home Front during World War II? (assessed)

Was the dropping of the Atomic bombs justified? (assessed)

Cold War

Year 9 Research project

Key Stage 4

Units of work, Grouping of students, assessment and expected standards

In Years 10 and 11 pupils follow the Edexcel syllabus History B course. Pupils have five hours of lessons over the two week timetable. The GCSE is divided into four units of study.

In year 10 pupils study the following two units:

- Development study on Medicine and treatment

- Source enquiry on the transformation of surgery c1845–c1918 Currently these two topic areas are examined in the summer term of year 10 and count for 50% of the final total marks.

In year 11 pupils study the following:

- controlled assessment on Weimar and Nazi Germany worth 25%

- Depth study The American West c1840–c1895

The American West will be examined in the summer of year 11 and makes up the final 25% of the course.

This GCSE requires students to demonstrate:

knowledge and understanding of the historical periods, themes and topics studied and their chronology through:
making connections and comparisons between different aspects of the periods, themes and topics studied
describing, analysing and evaluating the causes and consequences of

historical events and situations

describing, analysing and evaluating changes and developments in the periods, themes and topics studied
assessing the significance of individuals, events, developments and/or ideas in the history studied.

The skills of History are relevant to many of today’s careers including: Law, teaching, police, civil service, journalism, politics, TV/ Media, health professionals and IT

"Although a history degree is not job specific, its graduates have the skills that enable them to pursue a multiplicity of careers demanding a wide range of talents, and they do so extremely successfully in an open and competitive jobs market."

Home Learning Opportunities

In year 7 pupils are set 30 minutes homework a week and in year 8 - 30 minutes every two weeks and in year 9 up to 45 minutes a week Pupils will be set a variety of different types of homework which will include research, writing extended pieces of writing and independent learning activities., using the VLE and watching historical documentaries/programmes.

Years 10/ 11 will be set a minimum of 45 minutes a week and much of the focus of these homework’s is revision based and the opportunity for pupils to undertake independent learning to support the learning in lessons.

Gifted & Talented Opportunities

The History department offers a range of opportunities for ‘gifted and talented’ pupils in line with the school policy. This includes encouraging pupils to use academic texts to support their learning, providing opportunities for independent research on topics of their choice and providing speakers to enhance the classroom learning.