History
Subject Leader: Mr Mark Bartlett - m.bartlett@lavington.wilts.sch.uk
Year 7
What are we studying?
Students follow the National Curriculum at KS3. The key theme for Year 7 is Everyday life, everyday people- How does everyday life change?.
The topics are;
•‘An introduction to History’ – sources/evidence, chronology. •How harsh was medieval life? •How has Islamic Civilization contributed to the world? •In what way is the Renaissance similar to the Islamic Golden Period? •What was life in Tudor England really like for ordinary people? •Did life for ordinary people improve in the Industrial Revolution? •To what extent has the status of women changed in British society between the 18th and 20th Century? •Did people gain more freedom after WW2?
How are we assessed?
Students are assessed formatively in class every lesson, through written and creative work, and through weekly consolidation and extension homework tasks. Students also complete summative ‘Key Assessments’ for each topic. This assesses a specific historical-skill eg. extended writing, source-analysis. In some topics, students work on this week by week through the term, completing section by section. In other topics, they complete their assessment in the last lesson of that term. With all assessments, students are provided with ‘success criteria which sets out a clear pathway to success.
How we provide for SEN and Most able students?
The department has a wide range of differentiated resources to provide opportunities for learning at every level of ability. We also provide differentiated assessment tasks so students can set their own targets and achieve all that they can. History is also taught in ability sets to support all students.
How are we grouped?
Students are taught in mixed ability classes in the History department. Our experienced team of teachers ensure that high challenge is maintained together with appropriate support where necessary.
What homework are we expected to do?
There will be one homework task set per week, which should take 30 minutes to complete. As above, this will either be a part of the Key Assessment task or a discrete, weekly homework task consolidating or extending the learning from that week’s lessons. In addition, students should also complete additional outside research to supplement their class-based learning.
What can parents do to help?
Ask your child to explain the meaning of the historical vocabulary and concepts that are new to each unit.
Encourage your child to discuss what they have learnt each week as they are looking through their books.
Look out for historical articles in newspapers and watch TV documentaries to develop your child’s understanding and awareness of historical issues and events.
Year 8
What are we studying?
Students follow the National Curriculum at KS3. The key theme for Year 8 is ‘How has religious difference driven change and challenged rulers, and how have social and civil rights developed?
The topics are;
•Why was Henry VIII such a famous monarch? •How effective was Elizabeth I? •Why was Charles I the first monarch to be executed? •What is the story of Slavery in USA/Caribbean? •The Civil Rights movement – from slavery/segregation to freedom. •How has immigration changed Britain?
How are we assessed?
Students are assessed formatively in class every lesson, through written and creative work, and through weekly consolidation and extension homework tasks. Students also complete summative ‘Key Assessments’ for each topic. This assesses a specific historical-skill eg. extended writing, source-analysis. In some topics, students work on this week by week through the term, completing section by section. In other topics, they complete their assessment in the last lesson of that term. With all assessments, students are provided with ‘success criteria which sets out a clear pathway to success.
How we provide for SEN and Most able students?
The department has a wide range of differentiated resources to provide opportunities for learning at every level of ability. We also provide differentiated assessment tasks so students can set their own targets and achieve all that they can. History is also taught in ability sets to support all students.
How are we grouped?
Students are taught in mixed ability classes in the History department. Our experienced team of teachers ensure that high challenge is maintained together with appropriate support where necessary.
What homework are we expected to do?
There will be one homework task set per week, which should take 30 minutes to complete. As above, this will either be a part of the Key Assessment task or a discrete, weekly homework task consolidating or extending the learning from that week’s lessons. In addition, students should also complete additional outside research to supplement their class-based learning.
What can parents do to help?
Ask your child to explain the meaning of the historical vocabulary and concepts that are new to each unit.
Encourage your child to discuss what they have learnt each week as they are looking through their books.
Look out for historical articles in newspapers and watch TV documentaries to develop your child’s understanding and awareness of historical issues and events.
Year 9
What are we studying?
Students follow the National Curriculum foundation . The key theme for Year 9 is ‘The effects of empire and conflict in the twentieth century’.
The topics are;
•How can we use sources to learn about life in the trenches during WW1? •Russia-Tsar to Stalin •Why did Hitler persecute Jews and what was the full extent of the Holocaust? •How were British people affected by World War Two? •How should the 20th Century be remembered? •Why did the Cold War not turn Hot?
How are we assessed?
Students are assessed formatively in class every lesson, through written and creative work, and through weekly consolidation and extension homework tasks. Students also complete summative ‘Key Assessments’ for each topic. This assesses a specific historical-skill eg. extended writing, source-analysis. In some topics, students work on this week by week through the term, completing section by section. In other topics, they complete their assessment in the last lesson of that term. With all assessments, students are provided with ‘success criteria which sets out a clear pathway to success.
How we provide for SEN and Most able students?
The department has a wide range of differentiated resources to provide opportunities for learning at every level of ability. We also provide differentiated assessment tasks so students can set their own targets and achieve all that they can. History is also taught in ability sets to support all students.
How are we grouped?
Students are taught in mixed ability classes in the History department. Our experienced team of teachers ensure that high challenge is maintained together with appropriate support where necessary.
What homework are we expected to do?
There will be one homework task set per week, which should take 45 minutes to complete. As above, this will either be a part of the Key Assessment task or a discrete, weekly homework task consolidating or extending the learning from that week’s lessons. In addition, students should also complete additional outside research to supplement their class-based learning.
What can parents do to help?
Ask your child to explain the meaning of the historical vocabulary and concepts that are new to each unit.
Encourage your child to discuss what they have learnt each week as they are looking through their books.
Look out for historical articles in newspapers and watch TV documentaries to develop your child’s understanding and awareness of historical issues and events.
Years 10 and 11
AQA GCSE History
Students will be studying the new GCSE course, this allows students to study a much wider course than in previous years covering both European and British History.
This course comprises of four elements over the two years. On Paper 1; Understanding the Modern World, students will complete a period study and a wider world study. On Paper 2; Shaping the Nation, they will cover a thematic study and a British depth study. Both of these papers are examined at the end of Year 11 in two exams which are 1 hour and 45 minutes long, each worth 50% of the final GCSE grade.
Year 10
What are we studying?
Students follow the AQA syllabus at GCSE. In Year 10, two exam topics are studied which cover the Paper 1 requirements.
The exam topics are;
- ·Understanding the Modern World. Germany 1890-1945, Democracy and dictatorship.
- · Wider World study. Conflict and tension between East and West 1945-1972.
Year 11
What are we studying?
Students follow the AQA syllabus at GCSE. In Year 11, two exam topics are studied which covers all aspects of the Paper 2 exam. There will also be a revision programme for the final summer exams.
The exam topics are:
- ·Thematic study; Britain: Health and the People c.1000 to the present day
- · British Depth study; Elizabethan England c.1568 - 1603
How are we assessed?
The two exam topics are assessed formatively, weekly, by actual GCSE exam questions to develop technique and other history and skill-based tasks. Students are then summatively assessed at the end of each topic with a full practice GCSE question. For all GCSE questions, students use GCSE grade-criteria and receive examiner-style feedback to enable understanding and ensure student progression.
How are we grouped?
Students are placed in classes based on their option-block choices.
Some classes are mixed-ability and some are streamed based on students’ target grades.
What home learning are we expected to do?
There will be one home learning task set per week, which should take between 60-90 minutes to complete. In addition, students are expected to use their course text book to read through the sections covered each week to support their understanding and development of historical vocabulary. They should also complete additional outside research to supplement their class-based learning.
What can parents do to help?
Ask your child to explain the meaning of the historical vocabulary and concepts that are new to each unit.
Encourage your child to discuss what they have learnt each week as they are looking through their course text book.
Look out for historical articles in newspapers and watch TV documentaries to develop your child’s understanding and awareness of historical issues and events.
GCSE Knowledge Organisers
GCSE Germany Learning Journey Overview
GCSE Conflict and Tension Learning Journey Overview