The History curriculum aims to provide students with the powerful knowledge and cultural capital that will enable them to thrive in modern society, as well as equipping them with the skills for further study in history.

By the end of their programme of study–at either Key Stage 3 or 4–students should be able to situate a range of important individuals, events, changes and continuities, as well as causes and consequences in historical context. As a department, we value diversity in all its forms, as well as the acquisition of deep knowledge and the mastery of historical skills that allows students to develop a broad understanding of British, European and global histories. In the History department, teaching and learning intends to fire students’ enthusiasm for studying the past, challenge and interrogate common misconceptions about history, and encourage students to take part in the process of doing history by asking big questions and taking part in contemporary historical debates.

KS3 overview:

Year 7: In Year 7, students will study a number of histories covering ancient, medieval and early modern worlds. Starting with a brief introduction module, ‘What is History?’, students will then move on to successively study the Romans, the Norman Conquest of Britain and the development of royal power in Britain until 1649. In the summer term students’ focus will shift to world histories, beginning with a study of the Islamic Empires of the medieval world and concluding with an investigation into The Crusades.

Year 8: Year 8 begins by introducing students to the Industrial Revolution, including a local study of how Sheffield became known as the ‘Steel City’. As in Year 7, later in the year the focus of students’ investigations shifts to world histories, beginning with a study of African Empires before 1700 and continuing through a series of studies into the British empire.

Year 9: Year 9 develops students’ understanding of the modern and post-modern worlds. In the Autumn Term, students complete studies of both World Wars, analysing the causes, course, and consequences of each. Lessons on medicine and surgery in World War I and the role of fascism in causing World War Two are included to support students who wish to study GCSE History.. In the Spring Term, students begin with a comparative study of 20th Century genocides focusing on the Holocaust before investigating the development of women’s suffrage in late 19th Century / early 20th Century Britain. In the Summer Term, students investigate the development of civil rights for African-Americans before charting the development of black migration to Britain from the Roman period to the present day.

GCSE overview and assessment information:

Year 10: The history curriculum at GCSE follows the EdExcel specification and builds on key historical concepts and content that has been introduced at Key Stage 3. Students begin Year 10 with Paper 1, a breadth study of Medicine Through Time that charts changes and continuities in Medicine from c.1250 to the present day, and concludes with a study of medicine on the Western Front of World War I. In the second half of the year, students complete a depth study of Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, which builds on students’ knowledge of core concepts such as power and monarchy from Year 7 and comprises one of the two topics studied for Paper 2.

Year 11: Students begin Year 11 with Paper 3: Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918 - 1939, charting the causes, course and consequences of Hitler and the Nazis’ rise to power as well as developing students’ source skills and challenging them to interact with historians’ interpretations of the period.. From January of Year 11, students then study Superpower Relations, 1941 - 1991, a depth study into the Cold War that is examined as part of Paper 2 alongside Anglo-Saxon and Norman England.

Useful links:

Seneca

www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize

www.bbc.co.uk/teach

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer