Key Stage 3 History

In History during Key Stage 3, students will embark on a thematic approach to studying History, looking at "Changing Lives and Attitudes" in Year 7. During Year 8 students will learn about "Power, Protest and Empire" and in Year 9 students will focus on"Conflict, Cooperation and Peace". By the end of Year 9, students should have a strong sense of chronology and a broad overview of History from Medieval times until today.

We are looking to develop more successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens, as well as superb Historians.

Year 7
"What is History?" An introductory course to studying History focusing on developing historical skills and evaluating different interpretations. Students will learn to use and evaluate evidence from the past and craft reasoned arguments. This unit looks at the importance of studying History today and introduces skills of independent thinking that are useful in subjects across Humanities and the wider school.

"Changing Lives and Attitudes". This new course focuses on how lives have changed for people from Ancient Rome until the present day. This thematic approach to studying History will give students a sense of chronology and period as they look at the key features of daily life over hundreds of years. They will build a sense of how lives, attitudes and beliefs have changed over time as well as developing the skills needed to be successful in History.

Year 8

"The Industrial Revolution" – This unit looks at how Britain became the first Industrial Nation between 1750 and 1900. Emphasis is placed on the social impact of this event on the people of the nation, looking at life in towns and cities.

"Black People’s of America" - Highlighting the origins, role of, and consequences of slavery, this module provides students with an understanding of the issue of slavery. Emphasis is placed upon the Civil Rights Movement from the 1950s and the nature of equality amongst all groups of people in the world.

Year 9: “The 20th Century”

The Origins and Events of the First World War – students study for an assessed piece on changing attitudes towards the “Great War” between 1914 and 1918.

The Rise of Hitler – emphasizing the effects of the 1929 Depression and how extreme poverty led to the rise of Dictators in Europe, including Adolf Hitler in Germany.

World War Two – all students study the foundations of the Second World War, the significant events and the Holocaust (Links with Year 9 Religious Education)

The World Since 1945 – studying topics as diverse as “Hippies” in the 1960s, the Cold War, 1945 - 91, the rise of media (e.g. television) and more. This unit provides a link to many of the GCSE topics that students can take in Year 10 and 11 History.