History (Key Stage 3)

Intent

We are passionately committed to providing an ambitious and inclusive curriculum that is exciting, broad and coherent to engage our learners in history – locally, nationally and internationally – instilling in them a love of learning about the past and a passion to find out more. Our curriculum is carefully planned, predominantly in chronological sequence, meeting the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum, both in terms of substantive and disciplinary knowledge. This is underpinned by carefully selected domains of knowledge as well as historical and second order concepts. Our curriculum has prioritised what we believe to be the core concepts and key generative knowledge as once this is secured in their long-term memory it can then be built upon to support future learning. Prioritising in this way enables our teachers to make effective ‘live’ decisions about what to emphasise and potentially revisit where necessary. In view of our context, we have focused on developing students’ experience and knowledge of diversity and of the wider world, to give them as broad a perspective of life as possible. Our curriculum is also designed to develop subject specific and employability skills.

Year 7

Focus

Autumn	Spring	Summer
Students begin the autumn term by learning about what life was like in Ancient and early Medieval England. Studies include a deep dive into the lives of the Celts and the Romans, as well as a look at what life was like under the Anglo-Saxons and the impact that Viking invasions had upon England. Later in the term, students conduct an enquiry into the succession crisis of 1066 and the subsequent Norman Invasion. Students will spend time analysing the events of the time, as well as conducting source activities based around the Battle of Hastings to find out how Harold Godwinson really died. This term finishes with a study of medieval castles in England.	As students move into the spring term, they will begin to deep dive into religion in the medieval world. This begins with an overview of Christian beliefs at the time, before we move onto an in-depth study about the Crusades – taking a particular focus on the Third Crusade and the reign of King Richard I. Richard’s brother, King John, is the focus of the study later in the half term as students assess and analyse the causes of the Barons’ Rebellion and the subsequent Barons’ War. Our study of rebellions continues as we fast forward to the 1300s and conduct an enquiry into the Peasants Revolt – highlighting the key differences between this and the Barons rebellion.	The summer term begins with a diversity study as we investigate what life was like in Africa during the medieval period. The focus of this unit is upon the Kings of Medieval Mali – Sunjata Keita & Mansa Musa – and students will assess their impact and legacy as medieval kings. This unit of work also takes a dive back into the crusades but assessing what the impact was like from the Muslim perspective. This study allows students to encounter the concept of historical perspectives. The summer term finishes with a review of medieval life in Britain through the lens of law and order. This unit allows students to build essential knowledge around crimes, policing and punishments in the medieval period, as well as an in-depth study into the role of the Church and an overview of their role in keeping law and order.

Enrichment Opportunities

The Mysterious Celtic Tribes of Britain: The Mysterious Celtic Tribes of Britain | The South (Celtic History)
Further learning on the Romans (Playlist): A glimpse of teenage life in ancient Rome – Ray Laurence
Norman Conquest (Full chronological story): Who were the claimants to the throne in 1066? (1/6) | History – The Norman Conquest
Virtual Castle Tour: Alnwick Castle Virtual Tour 2020
Secrets of Great British Castles: Secrets Of Great British Castles – Series 1 Episode 1 – Dover Castle – 2015 HD
Virtual tour of Holy Jerusalem: Take a virtual tour of Holy Jerusalem The importance of the Magna Carta: Why is the Magna Carta so Important? | Hunting for History | BBC Teach

Year 8

Focus

Autumn	Spring	Summer
Year 8 begin their study in History by looking at life under the Tudor monarchs of England. The unit starts with an overview of the War of the Roses and the life of Henry VI. Attention quickly turns to the wider European reformation led by Martin Luther. As we focus back on England, we move onto Henry VIII and look at the reasons for his 6 marriages, as well as the break from Rome and the impact that this had on England for decades and centuries afterwards. The unit ends with a series of lessons assessing the impact of Henry’s children – Edward, Mary and Elizabeth – and their impact on changing England. The second half of the autumn term allows students to look at England in the turbulent 1600s. The unit begins with a look at the Gunpowder Plot and allows students to make links and reflect on their earlier learning about the reformation in England. This is quickly followed by a dive into England’s witchcraft craze and then a deep look at the English Civil War and its aftermath. Students will encounter lessons based around the causes of the civil war, the main battles and the armies involved, the arrest, trial and execution of Charles I, England under Cromwell and latterly the restoration of the monarchy under Charles II.	The spring term begins with students take a dive into the Industrial Revolution and assess the impact that this had on Britain and its place in the world. Students will cover themes such as the domestic system and the transition into the factory system, the development of factory towns and a look at the key inventions of the time. Students will finish this unit by reflecting on the major changes of the revolution and assessing why the population of England “exploded” in this period. Following this we take a deeper look into the theme of transatlantic slavery. This unit includes key themes such as the historical roots of slavery, the trade triangle – including a look at the conditions during the middle passage. Students will also look at the slave sale and auction, life on plantations and resistance to slavery – including the Haitian rebellion. The unit finishes with a study about the abolition of slavery and the impact on the wider world..	The first unit of the summer terms starts with a look at two major turning points in world history. First, students will take a deep dive into British and French rule in America, followed by the American War of Independence and the declaration of the United States of America. We then compare events in America with later events in France when we look at the French Revolution. Key themes include freedom, equality and the nature of government and power structures within both countries. Victorian England is the focus of the final summer half-term. Firstly, students will discover how life changed in the 1800s, reflecting on how the major changes and inventions of the 1700s had on this. A dive into the world of Victorian Whitechapel is next up. Students will assess themes such as the living conditions in this area of Victorian London, as well as a detailed study of what life was like in a Victorian Workhouse. A study of crime is next up as students look at the major crimes that took place before we introduce the crimes of Jack the Ripper. Students will assess the key historiographical changes to the story – led by historian Hallie Rubenhold – as we delve into the lives of the five victims, dismissing many of the myths that have built up over years of history.

Enrichment Opportunities

The Tudors Overview: The Tudors Explained in 13 Minutes
The Stuarts Overview: THE STUARTS IN 7 MINUTES PRESENTED BY COMEDIAN DAVID MITCHELL HD
Causes of the French Revolution: What caused the French Revolution? – Tom Mullaney
Napoleonic Wars: The Complete History of The Napoleonic Wars | History Of Warfare | Timeline
Virtual Tour of Whitechapel: Jack the Ripper – London Walking Tour In His Footsteps International Slavery Museum: What is the International Slavery Museum?

Year 9

Focus

Autumn	Spring	Summer
Year 9 students begin their study with an enquiry about the causes and impact of World War I. Students start by assessing the M.A.I.N. long-term causes of the war before analysing the importance of the assassination of Franz Ferdinand. Students then move on to cover important themes such as the failure of Germany’s Schlieffen Plan, British propaganda, conscientious objectors, the trench system, weapons of World War I and a look into historians’ views about General Haig. The unit ends with a final enquiry into why Germany lost World War I. In the second half of the autumn term, students conduct an enquiry into women’s rights in the 1900s and determine how much change took place. This study includes an in depth look at the Suffragist and Suffragette movements, including how they protested and how the government responded to them. Finally, the unit ends with a source enquiry into the death of Emily Davison in 1913 and finally a look at how much women’s rights had progressed (or not) into the later 1900s.	Students begin the spring term with an in-depth look at the inter-war years. The rise of communist and fascist dictatorships in Europe is the focus as students assess the key features of both ways of running a country. This is followed by a focused look at Germany between 1918 and 1939, covering themes such as Adolf Hitler’s early life, the failed Munich Putsch of 1923, the impact of the Wall Street Crash on Germany and Hitler’s rise to power and finally how Adolf Hitler became the totalitarian leader of Germany by 1934. This unit finishes with a review of the steps to World War II, assessing the main events and causes between 1933-1939. The second half of the spring term is where students study the key turning points of World War II. Our study begins with an enquiry about the Blitz and evacuation in Britain. This learning focusses on the local impact on Liverpool and the Wirral, including a case study of children who were evacuated from Birkenhead to Oswestry at the start of the war. Students then progress to assess the main turning points of the war including, the German invasion of France, the evacuation from Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain, Operation Barbarossa, Pearl Harbor and the events of D-Day in 1944. Students finish this unit by assessing which turning points were the most crucial in the war.	The summer term of Year 9 starts with a study of the Holocaust. Students will begin the unit by reflecting on persecution against Jewish groups throughout history. Following this, our study focusses on life in Nazi Germany and the Nazi occupied countries during this time. Students will be taught through the lens of real-life stories about victims and survivors of the Holocaust and will study themes including, life in the concentration camps, life in ghettos, resistance during the Holocaust, as well as focusing on the incredible story of Nicholas Winton as they explore the theme of Kindertransport. The latter part of this term moves to the post-1945 period as students will take a dive into the Cold War and its effect on the USA, the USSR and the wider world. Lessons include a focus on the use of the atomic bomb in 1945, the Berlin Crisis of 1948, the building of the Berlin Wall and the Cuban Missile Crisis. The unit ends with a focus on the fall of the Berlin Wall and the post-Cold War world that we know today. Year 9 ends with a small unit of study looking at post-1945 Britain and students will cover themes such as, post-war consensus and the building of the welfare state, migration to Britain (including Windrush), and finally a look at the governments of Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s and Tony Blair in the 1990s and early 2000s.