History

Welcome to the History Department at Eastbrook. Our aim is for every student to develop a love of our subject and to become good learners. To do this pupils need to be persistent, courageous, organised, motivated and independent. We use the study of history to help pupils acquire these virtues, building up their knowledge and skills to help young people make wise choices when confronted with dilemmas today by learning how similar dilemmas were dealt with in the past

Key Stage 3

We aim to make sure through KS3 pupils are taught the skills necessary for KS4 and also to engage them in the study of history. We try to make history relevant and personal, reflecting the interests and experiences of our student cohort. The KS4 curriculum does not lend itself to teaching about powerful women and minorities so we have created modules to do with slavery and women’s history in KS3. We teach pupils chronological knowledge from 1000 to the present day to teach them how to reflect critically on reasons why events happened and what their consequences were and how this had impacts at the time and now.

We teach them to research and how to interpret and evaluate sources, to enable them to form arguments and analyse actions to make judgements about the past that helps inform their own journey into the future; learning to reflect and question their own actions and views so they can decide for themselves what the ‘right’ thing is to do in any given circumstance. Learning these important skills then helps them prepare and understand what is needed for them to pass their GCSE with excellent grades.

We teach using overviews and depth studies for example we cover life in the Middle Ages in part of year 7 but with depth studies on the battle of Hastings and the importance and conflicts caused over religion. The battle of Hastings allows us to teach new historical skills when pupils arrive and the conflicts within religion provides much needed context for further studies at KS4.

We also look at controversial events like the Atlantic Slave Trade, the suffragettes and the Holocaust. We link controversial event to the consequences, for example how the violent actions of the suffragettes had in the end a good outcome for the democracy of our country

We teach them what has changed and ask them to reflect and analyse why these changes have occurred for example the changes that led from Kings/dictatorship rule to democracy or how protest across time has achieved progress for different groups like the Abolitionists or the Suffragettes.

Key Stage 4

In KS4 we follow the Edexcel GCSE History (1-9) course. This continues to build on skills from GCSE. By the end of the KS4 they will be able to write clear and developed explanations about the causes, consequences and significance of the topics they study, and they will be able to analyse why change and continuities occur. They will be able to make well researched arguments with detail that allow them to reach judgments on key events over large periods of time and in-depth snapshots. They will also be able to interrogate how useful sources are, identifying their provenance to infer their purpose and use. They will use their knowledge to assess and evaluate historian’s interpretations of the past and reach their own judgments on what was significant.

The units we study are

  • Crime and Punishment across time c1000-present day; including a historical environment unit on Whitechapel 1870-1900
  • Early Elizabethan England 1558-1589
  • Superpower relations and the Cold War 1941-1991
  • USA at home and abroad 1954-1975; focus the Civil Rights movements and the Vietnam War

The skills pupils gain at KS4 will ensure they are ready to study History in KS5, at present this is taught through our 6th form consortium at a different school.

Curriculum Enrichment

We believe visiting historical sites can bring history alive and encourage our pupils to visit as many as possible with their families. We also try to lay on trips in KS3&4 to encourage and engage pupils in our subject.

Homework

In KS3 pupils will be expected to complete two- three home works across a two week period; these will range from online quizzes, watching clips and producing feedback, researching topics they will be learning about or completing written work in a variety of formats

In KS 4 pupils will b expected to complete two – four home works across  a two week period; this is to allow for pupils to prepare for in depth reading and to continuously revise topics. Revision will take place in various ways but mostly using online forums such as Everlearn, GCSEPod and online quizzes. One homework will always be an extended piece of writing

Career Opportunities

History teaches students to organise ideas, read & research information, problem solve, communicate information, and argue persuasively verbally & in writing. It also helps students to understand and empathise with different attitudes and views; all important skills in the world of work

In further education most universities still require that if you wish to do a degree in Law, you must have studied History and whatever subject you choose at degree level, History is a well-received qualification as the universities know you have key research skills.

The study of people and having power is at the heart of History – their feelings, attitudes, prejudices and motivation. This understanding is very useful in the ‘people professions’, from receptionists, hairdressers and beauticians, to teachers, the Health Service, Social Work and Personnel

Also History teaches interviewing and enquiry skills, which fit an historian for jobs which find out information – e.g. TV researcher, investigative reporter, market research, police.

History requires extended, logical, reasoned debate in writing. It is essential for any job which requires writing reports, eg the Civil Service, Law, Journalism, any management role

Exam Boards

Pearson Edexcel History (9-1) GCSE

Specification code: (1HI0

Board, course title, specification code. Also include year of examination if you are transitioning to other courses

Support for exams

Links to useful websites

https://www.satchelone.com/login?subdomain=eastbrook&userType=student

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/history-2016.html

https://theeverlearner.com/

GCSE Learning and Revision

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zk26n39

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/zw4bv4j

Past Papers

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/support-topics/exams/past-papers/past-papers-information-for-students.html

 

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