At the Academy, we aim to make History lessons, fun, challenging and relevant. History provides pupils not only with an understanding of the past, but also develops key analytical and evaluative skills essential across the curriculum and to most careers. Ms. Allen (Head of History), Mr. Kelly (Vice Principal), Mr. Roche and Mr. Walby are all History specialists who love to share their passion for the subject.
A Curricular Guide to Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4
In Year 7, pupils study Medieval Realms. They look at the Norman Conquest and the effects of William the Conqueror’s rule in Britain. Pupils ask and answer historical questions and analyse primary and secondary sources.
In Year 8, pupils develop their skills further through a study of Elizabethan England in the first term. The topic of ‘Jack the Ripper’ has proved to be extremely popular with our students as they merge their source evaluation skills with a study of the poor in Victorian London. Our unit ‘Black Peoples of the Americas’ gives students an overview of African-American History from slavery to the present day. Finally, pupils study ‘The Holocaust’ and ‘Twentieth century Influential Figures’.
History is a popular GSCE option and we currently have over a large number of Year 9 students studying for the Short Course GCSE in Classical Civilisations. Pupils study a module on Ancient Athens before writing a 2000 word study on the ancient Olympic Games. This is an excellent opportunity for pupils to gain an extra qualification and good preparation for the Modern World History course in Years 10 and 11. In recent years, we have had a significant number of pupils gaining A grades despite taking their GCSE two years early.
For their full GCSE, pupils study:
The USA 1910 – 1929: Topics include immigration, religious intolerance, crime and corruption, the economic boom and the Wall Street Crash.
Germany in Transition 1929 – 47: Topics include the Weimar Republic, the Rise of Hitler, Nazi Germany and Germany during WWII.
The Development of the USA 1919-2000: Topics include Roosevelt and the New Deal, changes in American society, attitudes towards race, foreign policy, the Cold War and Vietnam.
Students also complete a controlled assessment on aspects of British History. This year they have studied sources on evacuation in WWII and Dunkirk.
The Department has also planned whole-school lessons for special events in History. We celebrate Black History Month every October and contribute to commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day in January, amongst others.
Success
History is an extremely successful subject at the Academy. Our results are routinely higher than the national average with 76% achieving a grade C or above in 2011. Many of our students have gone on to study A-level and college courses in History and related subjects. In a recent OFSTED all History lessons were judged to be good or outstanding. Our lessons have been featured in the TES magazine and on the Guardian website as examples of good practice. Staff run our own revision website, which is used by other schools and is accessible to everyone. This can be found at www.revisehistory.com
Student Voices
“My teacher makes history fun, She picks exciting subjects like Jack the Ripper. All of her lessons are never boring and like they say you learn something new every day.” – Diana Joseph (Year 8)
“I was predicted an E in History based on my results from primary school. I achieved an A* in Year 10 and am really enjoying my lessons” – Callum Johnston (Year 11)
“History is a nice subject, it tells us about the past and it helps us to develop the future. I love the way the teacher teaches, it’s really interesting learning a story about the past.” - Nellie Nkumba (Year 11)
“I came from Zimbabwe in Year 10 and had to catch up on the course as I was behind in everything. With the help of my teachers I got an A* in History at the end of Year 10 and would like to get a degree in History.” – Tawanda Mafukidze (Year 11)
Miss Allen (Head of History)
