History

Head of Department:

M.Whitfield

2ic: S.Rivera

 

Other staff members:

B.Towsend (Head of Y11)

P.Willis (Head of Y8)

D.Almond (Assistant Head of Y7)

 

Key skills (subject specific) that are developed:

An understanding and appreciation of history are vital components of well-rounded, tolerant and reflective citizens. For many, the secondary sector is the last opportunity to study history formally; for some it will only be up to the end of Year 9. As a department, therefore, we are conscious of our responsibilities as history teachers and are committed to:

  • stimulating student curiosity, interest and enjoyment in history 
  • cultivating a sense of the past, a knowledge of events and their causes and effects
  • encouraging the development of informed opinions that are supported with reasoned arguments and communicated effectively
  • encouraging open and enquiring minds that are aware that interpretations of history can often be shaped by individual points of view

We focus in our teaching on making pupils feel confident when using and learning about second order concepts, which are: 

  • Cause and Consequence
  • Change and Continuity
  • Significance
  • Diversity
  • Interpretation
  • Similarity and Differences

These are essential to effective History teaching, as it enables students to delve into the past and really connect with how things have changed over time, the significance of important events and enables them to establish understanding of chronology and why things happen. 

To effectively employ the above aims, we make sure as a department we:

  • Provide a range of well-planned activities and where we can take the learning outside of the classroom.
  • Follow effective schemes of work that fulfil the requirements of the National Curriculum
  • Get students to develop their ability to analyse sources and engage with contemporary material, which enables students to effectively learn about the past.
  • When applicable using ICT within the classroom.
  • Allow students to develop their independent learning.
  • Remain committed to our own personal development and enthusiasm of history.

 

KS3

Summary

At KS3 we focus our studies thematically and around second order concepts to aid students understanding of history. 

Summary:

We examine 4 key topics of What is History, migration, warfare and Empire. 

 

Autumn

Spring

Summer

What is History? We spend 5-6 lessons examining the key skills of History and using sources to uncover and work out who the Tollund man is. 


Migration – we examine reasons people have moved to Britain, examining push and pull factors for this. 

We examine groups of people such as: Roman, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, Normans and many more. This is taught in a chronological approach and we focus on the similarity and differences of people’s experiences. 

Warfare – we examine the causes of different wars, then our focus study is WW1 with a core interpretation question being on General Haig and whether he was a competent general. We examine sources to help us come to a clear judgement on this. 

We then examine different wars from around the world.

Empire – we examine the beginnings of the African Empire of Mali and Benin. 

We then learn about the British Empire and the impact it had on Britain and the world. 

Summary:

This year we examine the topics of Local History, Protest and Apartheid in South Africa.

Autumn

Spring

Summer

Local History – we examine the History around us in Barking and Dagenham, focusing on Eastbury Manor House, the ford factory to name a few.

Protest – we examine various different protests looking at what makes a protest successful. We examine protests such as Boudicca’s against the Romans, the suffragettes and Ghandi. 

We then examine the Civil Rights movement in America linking this to issues in the modern day – there is a chance for a lot of discussion when studying protest. 

South Africa and Apartheid - following on from the protest unit, we examine the conditions within South Africa and Apartheid, examining events such as the Sharpeville massacre. 

Power unit - we examine various king and queens throughout British History and the impact they had in England, while comparing it to events that are concurrently occurring across the world, to give students a greater understanding of world history.

Summary:

We examine topics of Women throughout History, the Holocaust and Crime and Punishment throughout time. 

Autumn

Spring

Summer

Hidden Histories – we examine the contribution of 6 key women from different backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities and the impact they have made in society. Women’s history is underrepresented compared to men’s and this unit gives students the opportunity to focus on what amazing contributions women have made in the past. We examine people like Hypatia, and Madam C J Walker.

The Holocaust – a very sensitive and important topic to teach we examine what led to the Holocaust, examining the lives of Jewish people before and the impact the Holocaust had.

Crime and Punishment – we examine throughout time how crimes, punishment and law enforcement have changed from 1250 to the modern day.

Useful websites:

BBC bitesize has a range of topics broken down to aid students e.g.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zjbj6sg/revision/1 - focusing on the crusades, relevant for Y7.

 

KS4

Summary

We study OCR History B: Schools History Project. It is made up of 3 exams and 5 units: 

Paper 1 – Crime and Punishment/ Elizabeth I

Paper 2 – History Around Us – Tower of London

Paper 3 – Nazi/ Making of America.

Summary:

We begin the study of the GCSE course and the knowledge and skills needed for it.

Autumn

Spring

Summer

Elizabeth I – we examine 5 units on Elizabethan England from 1580-1603.

We begin studying the Tower of London as part of the History around us Unit.

We begin to study the Nazi’s which is made up of 5 units examining life between 1933-1945.

Summary:

We continue with our GCSE course and leave time for revision. 

Autumn

Spring

Summer

We finish teaching the Nazi course and begin to teach Making of America. 

Revision on all of the course and exams.

Exams

Additional Reading:

Textbooks for all units can be found on amazon. Example of the Elizabethan one below.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/OCR-GCSE-History-SHP-Elizabethans/dp/1471860981/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=ocr+history+the+elizabethans+textbook&qid=1610718411&sr=8-1

Elizabeth I by David Starkey.

The Tudor Years by John Lotherington.

The Tower of London: The Biography by Stephen Porter

Crime and Punishment in England: an Introductory History by John Briggs, Christopher Harrison

 

Useful websites:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zwmr7hv/revision/1

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z2932p3/revision/1

https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/ - click on the education section and there are lots of resources.




KS5

Summary

We study AQA exam board and focus on: 

1K The Making of a Superpower USA 1865-1975

2D Religious conflict and the church 1529-1570

Summary:

both courses are taught by different teachers concurrently. 

Autumn

Spring

Summer

1K -Part one: from Civil War to World War, 1865–1920

The Era of Reconstruction and the Gilded Age, 1865–1890

2D – Henry VIII – the condition of the church before 1529. 

The Reformation and the King’s Great Matter 

 

1K – Populism, progressivism and imperialism, 1890–1920

2D- Changes to the church between 1540-47.

1K – Populism, progressivism and imperialism, 1890–1920

2D – complete unit 3 examining changes to the church and start Edward VI.

Summary:

The teaching of the course continues but students begin to work on coursework also, which is called the NEA and consists of 20% of their final mark and 4,500 words. 1 lesson over 2 weeks is dedicated to this and it is an independent piece of work. This normally begins at the end of year 12.

Autumn

Spring

Summer

1K -Part two: crises and the rise to World Power, 1920–1975 (A-level only) 

Crisis of identity, 1920–1945 

2D: Edward VI and Mary I 

1K - The Super Power


2D: Elizabeth I 

Exam

 

Additional Reading:

1k -

  • H Brogan, The Penguin History of the United States of America, Penguin, 2001 
  • P Clements, Prosperity, Depression and the New Deal: 1890-1954, Hodder, 2008 
  • J de Pennington, Modern America: 1865 to the Present, Hodder, 2005,
  • D Murphy et al, Flagship History - United States 1776-1992, Collins, 2001 
  • C Rowe, AQA History AS: Unit 1 - USA, 1890-1945, Nelson Thornes, 2008

 

2D – 

  • Carpenter R, The Church in England and the Struggle for Supremacy, 1529-1547, Nelson Thornes, 2009
  • Tillbrook M, The triumph of Elizabethan Britain, 1547-1603, Nelson Thornes, 2009 
  • Dawson I, The Tudor Century, Nelson Thornes, 1993
  • A Fletcher & D MacCulloch, Tudor Rebellions, Longman, 2008