History
Head of Department : Mr Adams - JADAMS@larkmead.vale-academy.org
Key Stage 3
History fires pupils’ curiosity and imagination, moving and inspiring them with the dilemmas, choices and beliefs of people in the past. It helps pupils develop their own identities through an understanding of history at personal, local, national and international levels. It helps them to ask and answer questions of the present by engaging with the past.
Pupils find out about the history of their community, Britain, Europe and the world. They develop a chronological overview that enables them to make connections within and across different periods and societies. They investigate Britain’s relationships with the wider world, and relate past events to the present day.
As they develop their understanding of the nature of historical study, pupils ask and answer important questions, evaluate evidence, identify and analyse different interpretations of the past, and learn to substantiate any arguments and judgements they make. They appreciate why they are learning what they are learning and can debate its significance.
History prepares pupils for the future, equipping them with knowledge and skills that are prized in adult life, enhancing employability and developing an ability to take part in a democratic society. It encourages mutual understanding of the historic origins of our ethnic and cultural diversity, and helps pupils become confident and questioning individuals.
Key Stage 4
History challenges students by encouraging them to consider critical events from the Twentieth century. Students will get the opportunity to consider people’s lives in many different countries and in many different situations.
In the world make more sense. Varied teaching strategies from essays to cross words and school trips (e.g. WWI Battlefields, Auschwitz and Krakow, Theatre visits, etc.) help to develop students understanding of the course.
This course builds on areas students have studied in key stage 3 and also introduces new topics.
Students will learn about the causes of the First World War, the failure to make a lasting peace at the end of it and how this and other factors led to the Second World War.
The history of medicine. We also learn about how life in Britain between 1906 and 1927 focusing on changes to help the poor, the right of Women to Vote and how life in Britain changed during the First World War.
We look at Life in America between 1919 and 1941 looking at things like the economic boom, the Jazz age, Gangsters, Cinema, the problems of Black Americans and the Great Depression.
Finally as part of the controlled assessment Students will look at Life in Germany after the First World War and examine the rise of Hitler and the Nazi party in the years leading up to the Second World War.
How is History taught?
We use lots of different teaching methods, so whatever a students learning styles they will enjoy the subject
Resources – Film – ICT – Internet – Music – a Variety of textbooks
Activities – Group Work – Independent investigations
Visits – A 3-4 day trip to the First World War Battlefields in France & Belgium, theatre visits (Hitler on Trial)
Key Stage 5
What will my child learn in A-Level History
History is both an interesting and intellectually challenging subject. You choose from various aspects of modern British, European and World History. Each course is comprised of four units offered by OCR. The course is spread over two years. Two units are completed at AS level in Year 12 and two units are completed at A2 level in Year 13.
The course is assessed in three ways: Producing pieces of extended writing (essays) Analysing and interpreting historical documents and events (source work) Writing a piece of investigative coursework in the second year of the course
You will develop a range of useful skills that complement other subjects. Some of these skills are:
The ability to formulate and present arguments – both written and oral The analysis of a range of sources including written documents, pictures and statistics The ability to evaluate sources to assess its message, use, reliability and purpose The ability to accurately use key words and select and deploy relevant information The ability to make judgements to assess an argument
All of these skills will prove valuable and will open up a range of worthwhile careers. Students with a history degree have proven adaptable and desirable in the workplace and can achieve success in law, the media, education, and business environments to name but a few.