History

Skill

All people are living histories, so understanding the linkages between past and present is absolutely fundamental for a good understanding of the human condition. It is not just ‘useful’, it is essential.

Character

History aims to develop objectivity and tolerance in a world in which it is increasingly difficult to sift opinion from fact. In practice, children reflect upon choices and events in the past in order to apply these lessons to the present and future. By exploring fundamental knowledge about the past and the people in it, children are also able to cultivate a sense of identity linked to their local and national community.

Experiences

Every child will have the opportunity to explore different aspects of history through a domestic or international educational visit. Children will also often have the opportunity to develop the skill of empathy through active learning. For example, developing empathy skills by experiencing the cramped conditions which would occur on the middle passage of a slave trade ship. Children will also frequently have the opportunity to formulate opinions based on evidential knowledge and participate in debates with their peers.

Criticality

Historical thought involves highly critical thinking skills. By exploring using the historical ‘lenses’ of significance, similarity and difference, cause and consequence, interpretation and change and continuity children can begin asking questions of the past (Who, What, Where, When, Why, How?) to develop a deeper understanding of the past.

	Term 1		Term 2		Term 3
THEME/FOCUS
Year 9	Fundamental Skills Understanding chronology, using sources and writing skills	World War 1 and inter war years Short term and long-term causes of the war. Key battles including the Somme.	World War 2 and The Holocaust Rise of Hitler, European campaign, and Pacific War. Persecution of Jews and bystanders		Cold War Tensions between the East and West Arms and Space Race
Year 10	Medicine Through Time Medieval Era-Present Progress in understanding cause of diagnosis and treatment of disease.		Medicine Through Time Western Front – treating illnesses and evacuation of soldiers	Anglo-Saxons and Norman Conquest Anglo-Saxon Society and Edward the Confessor	Anglo-Saxons and Norman Conquest Battle of Hastings, Norman Castles and understanding how William established control of England.
Year 11	Weimar and Nazi Germany 1919-1939 Treaty of Versailles and development of Weimar Republic. Rise of Hitler and the Nazi’s. Persecution of minorities.		Superpower relations and the Cold War Increasing tensions between East and West. Development of arms race, Cuban Missile Crisis. Berlin Crisis – Berlin Blockade and Berlin Wall. Détente and easing of tensions.		Revision and DIRT. Exams