History

Course Overview

Click on the subject for the relevant year group in the table below to find out more information about each course.

A study of History is essential if we want to understand the world in which we live. It provides a sense of place and context – key reference points to make better sense of the present. It teaches the contingency of beliefs and provisionality of historical thinking so that pupils can appreciate that our understanding of the world changes. It is important because it teaches pupils to critically analyse what they come across in their day-to-day lives through important disciplinary knowledge, for example, by learning how to support claims and make historically valid arguments. 

Ambition for our pupils

Pupils should understand the analytical concepts of History, including change, causation, impact (consequence), diversity (similarity and difference) and significance. They should also have a broad chronological and cultural understanding of British History and society and a range of wider global events. Furthermore, by the time they leave the College, pupils should be able to appreciate the diversity of experiences of different people in society, in different time periods; write a convincing argument supported by a sound evidential base; interrogate and approach sources critically; and deconstruct historical interpretations.

The structure of our curriculum

All pupils study History at key stage 3. It is a GCSE option at key stage 4. 

Across the programme of study, pupils will be taught a series of topics in chronological order from Roman times to the post-war period. They will explore these topics through the analytical concepts of History – change, causation, significance, diversity (similarity and difference), impact (consequence). They will explore a range of first order concepts across their study, for example empire, revolution and identity.

At the same time, pupils will be exposed to different historical methodologies, including evidential enquiry (interrogating sources and evidence); historical interpretations (deconstructing and analysing claims about the past); and writing effective historical claims, qualifying claims and making valid arguments.