Curriculum
History helps students gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. It inspires students' curiosity to know more about the past.
History equips students to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement. It helps students to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges of their time.
WHAT IS COVERED IN
Aspects of History are covered within the L4L curriculum.
Year 7 L4L Themes:
- Journey to the Centre of the Earth
- In Days of Old
- Journeys
- Off With Your Head
- Silent Movies
Aspects of History are covered within the L4L curriculum.
Year 8 L4L Themes:
- Pudding Lane
- Coming and Going
- India
- Freedom
- Please Sir
- Over the Top
Aspects of History are covered within the L4L curriculum.
Year 9 L4L Themes:
- Whose Earth is It Anyway?
- Tragedy
- Made in China
- America
- Britain
Students who choose to continue studying History in Year 10 will follow the Edexcel History GCSE course. Students will primarily study the Early Elizabethan England 1558-1588 and the American West c.1835-c.1895.
As well as beginning intensive preparation for the summer examinations, students will study Weimar and Nazi Germany 1918-1939 and Warfare and British Society c.1250-present. This latter unit includes a historic environment study on London in the Second World War.
KS4 COURSE
WHAT IS THE COURSE ABOUT?
Edexcel GCSE History
GCSE History is an academically challenging and rigorous subject that demands commitment on the part of the students who study it.
Unit 1 – Thematic Study and historic environment: Warfare and British society, c1250–present and London and the Second World War, 1939–45.
Unit 2 – British Depth Study: Early Elizabethan England, 1558–88.
Unit 3 – Period Study: The American West, c1835–c1895
Unit 4 – Modern Depth Study: Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918–39
This course is assessed by four examination papers which are held in the summer term at the end of Year 11. There is no coursework. Students will be prepared for this by classwork, homework which is set every week with regular feedback and regular examination question practice. Within the classroom, students will have the opportunity to express their views and debate the significance of the topics studied.
WHAT CAN HISTORY LEAD TO?
All A-levels and different degree courses.
The study of people 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, lawyers, and civil servants.
History teaches key life skills and helps to prepare students for interviews and university life.
HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?
Four examination papers across three sessions at the end of Year 11. There is no coursework or controlled assessment.
WHAT SKILLS ARE REQUIRED?
Independent learning, high quality written communication skills, sophisticated vocabulary, analytical and evaluative skills, ability to evaluate primary sources and historical interpretations.
Mr Smith
I studied for an undergraduate degree in Ancient History at Cardiff University and a Masters degree in the History of Christianity at the University of Birmingham before completing a PGCE at the University of Warwick. I started teaching at Shireland Collegiate Academy in 2013 and have been Head of the Humanities Faculty since 2018.
