Welcome to the History Department

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In the Geography and History department we aim to foster a curiosity for learning within both subjects.

Although the two subjects retain a distinct philosophy of learning the close cooperation and collaboration between the subjects is a strong feature of the department. Geography builds on fieldwork and enquiry skills at KS3 to develop the thinking of pupils and prepare for the study of Geography at KS4. The teaching of the subject also aims to generate an interest in learning outside the classroom so pupils have a lifelong passion for the subject.

History is a subject that fires the imagination of the pupils as the pupils are taken on a learning journey throughout time. Enquiry and thinking skills are used to encourage critical thinking by the pupils as they gain knowledge of the past. Source based enquiries are used to prepare pupils for studying History at GCSE and ensure they are prepared to continue learning about the past outside the classroom.

Both subjects are taught in an academic and rigorous fashion with an emphasis on knowledge as a foundation for developing subject specific skills.

Year 7 outline of schemes of work/medium terms plans:

Y8 outline of scheme of work: medium terms plans:

Key Stage 4 Information:

Key stage 4 begins at the start of year 9 and all students are entered for GCSE History or Geography at the end of Year 11.

• During Year 9 students complete units of work in the first term that prepares them for GCSE work, including thematic enquiries in History as well as source investigations. The focus in Geography is field work and decision making, skills that are required for the examination. Towards the end of the year pupils will begin to study GCSE topics once they are fully prepared.
• In year 10 students will complete units from the specific AQA syllabus for Geography and History.

The Geography syllabus is composed  of:

Living with the physical environment

Section A: The challenge of natural hazards including  Natural Hazards, Tectonic Hazards, Weather Hazards and Climate Change

Section B: The living world  including  ecosystems such as Tropical Rainforests, Hot Deserts and Cold environment

Section C: Physical landscapes in the UK; Coastal Landscapes, Rivers and Glaciation

Challenges in the human environment

Section A: Urban issues and challenges

Section B: The changing economic world

Section C: The challenge of resource management which includes  food, water and energy

Geographical applications

Section A: Issue evaluation which is a critical thinking and problem solving test

Section B: Fieldwork  which will include two field work enquiries based on  primary data based on a fieldwork exercise

Geographical skills

Geographical skills Students are required to develop and demonstrate a range of geographical skills, including cartographic, graphical, numerical and statistical skills, throughout their study of the specification.

The History syllabus is composed of:

Paper 1: Understanding the modern world

Section A: Period study

1B Germany, 1890–1945: Democracy and dictatorship; pupils study the growth of Germany in the late nineteenth century . They investigate the Weimar Republic and the effects of the depression. Finally they study the experience of Germans under the Nazis.

Section B: Wider world depth study

Conflict and tension in Asia, 1950–1975: Pupils study the Cold War through an investigation of conflicts in South East Asia including  Korea and Vietnam.

Paper 2: Shaping the nation

Section A: Thematic studies

2A Britain: Health and the people: c1000 to the present day. Pupils study the  changes in Medicine experienced by the British people  from the Middle Ages to the modern world. They will identify and explain the key changes that have taken place.

Section B: British depth studies including the historic environment

Elizabethan England, c1568–1603 . Pupils will study Elizabethan England including the court and Parliament, the ‘Golden Age’ of Elizabeth and problems faced by Elizabeth. This includes the study of the historic environment of the time.

• Year 11 is used for students to revise and refine the skills required for both English Language and English Literature final GCSEs.

Examination Board used:

We follow the AQA exam board for both History and Geography, although some older pupils will follow the OCR B Geography syllabus until 2017

Qualification to be obtained:

GCSE History and GCSE Geography.