INTENT

The History curriculum is designed to give students a comprehensive understanding of historical periods from the Medieval era through to the Victorians and the 20th century. Students will be able to develop thinking skills, storytelling abilities, and source analysis capabilities through engaging materials and topics. By solving historical mysteries and challenging interpretations of the past, students gain a robust understanding of history, yet at the same time become respectful of sensitive issues and how to link that understanding to the present day; students not only acquire knowledge but also develop critical thinking, evaluative and problem-solving skills.

The core values of respect, resilience and responsibility are neatly spiralled throughout the curriculum, through factors such as causation of wars, change over time and interpretation.

IMPLEMENTATION

The curriculum is structured as follows:

KS3

Year 7

• Medieval village lives
• The Black Death
• Living in 15th Century towns and villages
• Power and control – barons and church vs the King
• Norman Conquest – evaluating the changing of England
• Tudor Depth Study
• Local history study on Looe and surrounding area

Year 8

• English Civil War
• Slavery
• Industrial Revolution
• The campaign for the vote

Year 9

• Causes and events of World War I
• Interwar years
• Some events of World War II, mostly British
• The Holocaust – empowering students to develop humanitarian understanding through an  independent piece of work
• International Terrorism

GCSE

• Medicine through time
• Weimar and Nazi Germany
• Saxons and Normans
• The American West

We effectively foster a respectful environment where students learn to respect the views of others and feel able to contribute to discussion. Students are encouraged to be resilient learners by correcting misconceptions and developing their writing skills through scaffolds and guided instruction.  We encourage students to be curious, lifelong learners, and we develop purposeful and engaging learning environments for this to happen.

IMPACT

Impact: Exam Success, Lifelong Skills, and Informed Decisions

A well-designed, engaging history curriculum has a lasting impact:

• Exam Success: Students are well-equipped to achieve well in their Edexcel GCSE History exams, demonstrating a strong understanding of the concepts.
• Deeper Historical Understanding: Students develop a solid grasp of concepts, preparing them for further history qualifications or simply fostering a lifelong curiosity about the past.
• Life-Long Skills: The curriculum hones critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical abilities - valuable assets for success in any field. Students learn to approach problems with an open mind.
• Informed Citizens: By understanding the past, students are better equipped to make informed decisions about their understanding and interpretation of the past, the environment, and the responsibility that learning history has as an impact on society.

History opens doors to post-16 and 18 courses in History, Archaeology, Criminology, Medicine, Classical Civilisation, Law and various apprenticeships. As far as career opportunities go, any career can be accessed with a history degree.