Curriculum Statement for History
HISTORY
Subject Leader - Ms G Tomsett
History
History at Pewsey Vale School is designed to give a thorough and stimulating insight into the past where students are encouraged to think critically and independently using precise knowledge and judgement. It is essential that their experience of the subject enables students to better understand the world they live in and their place in it: as a result, a diverse curriculum and an attitude to challenge stereotypes and prejudices underpin all elements of the Department's work. It encompasses reading, writing, speaking and listening, with students encouraged to debate, to explore issues and ideas, to express themselves clearly and to enjoy studying a wide range of historical events, people and changes.
Year 7
Year 7 History students will explore medieval history, with a particular focus on the development of monarchy, life during the medieval period and England’s relations with Europe.
Autumn Term |
Topic |
Assessment |
Home Learning |
September – October |
Norman Conquest |
Why did William win the Battle of Hastings? |
Castle House Project |
November – December |
Medieval Life |
Medieval Life source assessment |
Castle House Project |
Spring Term |
Topic |
Assessment |
Home Learning |
January – February |
Challenges to the Crown |
How did Medieval monarchy change? |
Homework menu |
March – April |
Crusades |
What was the most important cause of the Crusades? |
Homework menu |
Summer Term |
Topic |
Assessment |
Home Learning |
April - May |
Hundred Years War |
Why did England lose the Hundred Years War? |
Homework menu |
June - July |
War of the Roses |
War of the Roses source assessment |
Homework menu |
Year 8
Year 8 History students will the Early Modern World, with a particular focus on the Tudors and Stuarts, Industrial Revolution, French Revolution and Slavery and the Civil Rights movement.
Autumn Term |
Topic |
Assessment |
Home Learning |
September –October |
Tudors |
Spanish Armada source assessment |
Homework menu |
November – December |
Stuarts |
Was Cromwell a hero or villain? |
Charles I House Project |
Spring Term |
Topic |
Assessment |
Home Learning |
January –February |
Industrial Revolution |
Industrial Revolution source assessment |
Homework menu |
March – April |
The most dangerous man in Industrial Britain |
Who was the most dangerous man in Industrial Britain? |
Homework menu |
Summer Term |
Topic |
Assessment |
Home Learning |
April-May |
French Revolution |
What was the most important cause of Napoleon’s defeat? |
Homework menu |
June-July |
Slavery and the civil Rights movement |
Slavery source assessment |
Homework menu |
Year 9
Year 9 History students will explore the modern world, with a particular focus on the world wars, Holocaust and Cold War.
Autumn Term |
Topic |
Assessment |
Home Learning |
September –October |
World War One |
Was Haig a hero or a butcher? |
Trench House Project |
November – December |
Nazi Germany |
Why did Hitler become Chancellor of Germany? |
Homework menu |
Spring Term |
Topic |
Assessment |
Home Learning |
January –February |
Communist Russia |
Did life improve under communism? |
Homework menu |
March – April |
World War Two |
WWII source assessment |
Homework menu |
Summer Term |
Topic |
Assessment |
Home Learning |
April-May |
Holocaust |
How did persecution of the Jews change between 1933-45? |
Homework menu |
June-July |
Cold War |
Who was to blame for the Cuban Missile Crisis? |
Homework menu |
Assessment
Assessment will take place at the end of each unit. Students will be assessed against Key Stage three assessment matrices for History. History teachers will award grades and interim levels to students for individual pieces of work. During the course of their study these levels can go up and down as students develop different skills as well as the range of topics.
Assessment Matrices
Click for access to Assessment Matrices
Equipment
Students must have a school have a ruler, pen and pencil.
Extra-Curricular Activities
There will be periodic out of school visits to galleries, museums and historic sites relating to topics being undertaken.
Suggested Extension Activities
It is great to go and visit historical sites and museums in order to expand their contextual knowledge of the topics being studied. Also asking family members of experiences of the past will also enrich student’s understanding of how the past has developed.
GCSE History
Specification link
Overview
GCSE History covers a wide chronological range and types of history. In Year 10 pupils will focus on an in-depth British depth study: Early Elizabethan England, 1558– 88, the thematic study of Medicine Through Time, a period study of Superpower Relations & the Cold War Relations. In Year 11, pupils will assess the political changes & events in Germany, between 1919-1939, considering the impact of the rise & fall of the Weimar democracy & Nazi dictatorship. This caters for a wide range of interests and develops valuable analytical skills and critical thinking. There is no longer any controlled assessment unit in GCSE History; students will be assessed by three exams.
Year 10
Autumn Term |
Topic |
Assessment |
Home Learning |
September –December |
Cold War, 1941-1991 (Paper 2) |
End of Unit assessment and knowledge test |
Exam style questions |
Spring Term |
Topic |
Assessment |
Home Learning |
January –April |
Elizabethan England, 1558-88 (Paper 2) |
End of Unit assessment and knowledge test |
Exam style questions |
Summer Term |
Topic |
Assessment |
Home Learning |
April-July |
Medicine Through Time, c.1250-present (Paper 1) |
End of Unit assessment and knowledge test |
Exam style questions |
Year 11
Autumn Term |
Topic |
Assessment |
Home Learning |
September –December |
Medicine of the Western Front, 1914-1918 (Paper 1) |
End of Unit assessment and knowledge test |
Exam style questions |
Spring Term |
Topic |
Assessment |
Home Learning |
January –April |
Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1919-39 (Paper 3) |
End of Unit assessment and knowledge test |
Exam style questions |
Summer Term |
Topic |
Assessment |
Home Learning |
April-July |
Revision |
Exam style questions |
Revision |
History Resources
Textbooks and additional history books are available from the history office, including some revision material.
Assessment
Students are regularly assessed using the exam style questions and regular knowledge tests. Assessments are reported to parents/carers at intervals during the academic year. Students will be assessed by three written exams when they sit their GCSEs.
Home Learning
Homework will mainly be exam questions, revision or review tasks from content learnt in lessons. This is designed to use all time in lessons effectively to learn new content and exam skills.
Useful resources
Websites:
BBC bite size – good revision guides
Youtube.com – great for documentaries
www.johndclare.net – good for Germany
Wilcot Road,
Pewsey,
Wiltshire,
SN9 5EW
T 01672 565000
E admin@pewsey-vale.wilts.sch.uk