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History Department

The History Curriculum

The subjects within the Humanities help students understand the world around them and their place within it. At both KS3 and GCSE, history students are encouraged to ask perceptive questions about the past and to use critical thinking skills to analyse and evaluate different interpretations of events to frame their own answers. Students examine contrasting interpretations of events and evaluate how they have been constructed, developing the necessary skills to make judgements about key events in the history of Britain and the world, and to understand how historical evidence is used to support these judgements.

All students study history at KS3 which provides them with the opportunity to investigate Britain’s past as well as gain an understanding of significant events and movements in world history. The Year 7 curriculum is focused on the Medieval World, Year 8 on empire, revolution and change and Year 9 on social and political tension and conflict in twentieth century. As history happens all around us, we investigate national events and students explore local history through links to key events and figures such as the Leicester suffragette leader Alice Hawkins and local soldiers during World War I. Students also put events in Britain in context by studying developments in other areas of the world such as the Mughal Empire in India and the expansion of knowledge and learning in Northern Africa. Through the study of local, national and world history, students develop a chronological overview that enables them to return to key themes and make connections within and across different periods and societies and to understand their own identity and how it has been shaped by events over time.

History is a popular option at KS4 and follows the AQA specification which allows students to students gain a deeper understanding of Britain, its relationship with the world and how this has changed over time. Year 10 students explore British history covering the Elizabethan Age and a study of one thousand years of Migration and Empire to and from Britain. In year 11, the focus is on European history studying Russia from 1895-1945 and the efforts at Peace-making from 1919 to 1939 and the relationships and events which led to World War II. Once they have completed their GCSE history course, students will be fully equipped to move on to A level study of history and will have developed the skills of enquiry, debate and critical thinking and analysis which help prepare them for careers in areas such as journalism, law, medicine and business.

Independent Study:

Reading is very important to developing a knowledge of history. To encourage reading historical fiction for enjoyment, recommended reading lists will be provided with each topic studied. Watching suitable documentaries and television programs focused on the topics studied is also an interesting way to develop background knowledge of the topics studied.