Year 7
The main theme of the year is the development of life in England between 1060 and 1550. The main focus in terms of skills in this year is developing factual understanding of politics and society during the medieval period and the ability to explain features of two main events – the Battle of Hastings and the Black Death. In addition, you will consider the issue of change and continuity by comparing life in Anglo- Saxon and Norman England. You will also be introduced to the field of critical thinking in Year 7 with a study of Richard III directed at improving your ability to assess the usefulness of a historical source. In addition, you will complete a year-long research project on how far life in Britain has changed since the Saxon period - building independent research skills as well as creativity and confidence in public speaking as the project culminates with a presentation on their research. You will finish the year studying the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Topic list
Norman conquest, the Feudal System, the Domesday Book, Norman castles, medieval peasants, medieval medicine, medieval crime and punishment the Black Death, Richard III, the Wars of the Roses and Henry VIII and the Tudor monarchs.
Citizenship
As part of their Citizenship studies, pupils complete 3 lessons in History offering a basic introduction to the structure of the British government, providing pupils with an entry level knowledge of the role of the Queen, the Prime Minister, Parliament, how laws are made and the names of the key members of the current government.
Type of homework
In line with school policy, pupils in Year 7 should expect one homework per fortnight. This could be in the form of research, a short explanation question, revision for a factual test or a creative homework – particularly in preparation for their Battle of Hastings re-enactment!
Year 8
The main theme of this year is the development of Britain as a global power between 1550 and 1900. You will develop your factual knowledge of the Civil War, the slave trade, the American Civil War, the First World War and the assassination of JFK as well as carrying out an explanation focussed enquiry on the significance of Elizabeth I and the British Empire. You will re-visit your work on critical thinking and source evaluation with an enquiry into life on a slave plantation aiming to build on your ability to identify and explain the usefulness of a source. Finally, you will continue to develop their research skills with a speaking and listening assessment on the assassination of JFK – ending with a university-style VIVA assessment in which you have to respond to questions from your teacher and challenge the answers of your peers and an extended research project on the British Empire.
Topic list
Elizabeth I, the Gunpowder Plot, Civil War in Britain, the British Empire, the Slave Trade, Plantation Life, JFK, the First World War.
Citizenship
As part of your Citizenship studies, you will spend 3 lessons constructing a mock election campaign with the aim of developing your understanding of the electoral process and the system of voting used in Britain. This ends with a mock election in which each class elects their own M.P!
Type of homework
As with Year 7, you will be given one homework per fortnight. This will be in the form of a research homework, an explanation question or a creative task such as creating a poster on a battle from the American War of Independence.
Year 9
The main theme of this year is democracy, conflict and dictatorship in the 20th century. You will develop your factual knowledge of the Suffragettes, the rise of Hitler, Nazi Germany, the Holocaust, the causes of the Second World War, Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain, D-Day and the Home Front. There are three explanation based enquiries – one on whether or not the German people benefitted from life under the Nazi regime which is linked with our research and presentation task in which you will work in groups to research aspects of life in Nazi Germany and deliver a detailed presentation, which other pupils then use to produce an essay on life in Hitler’s Germany. The second is on the significance of the role played by Britain in the Second World War and the third encouraging pupils to examine Churchill's reputation as a 'great' Prime Minister. In addition, there is a critical thinking tasks to develop your ability to assess the usefulness of a source on the evacuation of the British army from Dunkirk in 1940.
Topic list
The Suffragettes and female suffrage, the Treaty of Versailles, the rise of Hitler and the Nazis, life in Nazi Germany, the Holocaust, causes of the Second World War, appeasement, the battles of WW2, Britain's significance in the Second World War, Winston Churchill.
Citizenship
As part of your Citizenship studies, pupils will spend 3 lessons looking in far more depth at the structure and role of different elements of the British government, be introduced to the concept of left and right wing political views and research different styles of government from around the world such as republics, parliamentary democracies, totalitarian dictatorships and monarchies.
Types of homework
You can expect to be given one homework task per fortnight. This will take the form of pre-reading / assessment preparation, research, explanation questions and source analysis questions.
