History

Head of Department: Mrs E Roche

Introduction of the History Curriculum 

Principles of the History curriculum: 

  • We learn about the past by exploring diverse people and places from different periods.
  • In order to understand the present and influence the future, we must understand the past.  At Hartshill Academy pupils study historical societies from across the globe from the Medieval period to the present day.
  • We strive to foster a curiosity in our pupils, encouraging them to question how the events of the past are interpreted. 

What is taught in the History curriculum

Year 7

Pupils will begin their study of the medieval world by traveling the Silk Roads from China, through the Islamic Empire, Constantinople and Western Europe.  Pupils will then study the Norman conquest of 1066 and the reasons for William’s victory at the Battle of Hastings. A topic on Norman control will show how William the Conqueror was able to effectively keep control of England and its people and how England changed under the Normans.  

They will then study the importance of religion in England during the Middle Ages and how much control the Church had in all aspects of life. A study of medieval medicine will focus primarily on the Black Death and its consequences in England. Following on from the Black Death, pupils will look at three case studies of medieval kings and the challenges they faced in maintaining their power.  We are excited to include a new topic in the year 7 curriculum: England’s Relationship with Neighbours, considering England’s links and conflicts with Scotland, Wales and France.  

Pupils will then study Medieval Mali and meet Mansa Musa, the worlds richest man.  Finally, pupils will prepare for their transition into year 8 with a study of the important changes in science, religion and travel during the Renaissance. 

Year 8

Pupils will begin by exploring the reasons why Henry VIII broke with the Catholic Church. Pupils will then analyse how and why Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I changed the course of religion in England. They will then study key aspects of the reign of Elizabeth I including her Religious Settlement and conflict with Spain. Pupils then move on to understand the political, economic and religious causes of the English Civil war of 1642.

We will look at how the Civil War ended, the changes made under Oliver Cromwell and then the Restoration period up to 1688. Pupils will then turn their attention to the British Empire and its impact on the world. This will lead onto a study of the transatlantic slave trade and the abolition of slavery.

Finally, pupils consider the dramatic social and political changes of the Industrial Revolution with a particular focus on the ribbon weaving industry of Nuneaton.

Year 9

Pupils begin the year with a study of the complex causes of World War I including imperialism, the alliance system and militarism.  These are considered alongside more short-term causes such as the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the ensuing Balkan Crisis.  

This leads to a study of conditions in the trenches on the Western Front and finally the terms and consequences of the Treaty of Versailles signed in 1919.  Pupils will then consider the fight for suffrage in Britain during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, considering the role of the NUWSS, the WSPU and the impact of WWI.  We then look at the rise of extremist ideologies in Europe in the interwar years and how this led to WWII.  

Pupils will then study the horrors of the Holocaust, looking at how Jewish communities were persecuted in Nazi Germany and considering who is ultimately responsible for the Final Solution.  Following this, pupils will get an introduction to the Cold War, looking at the rising tension between East and West in the years 1945 – 1990.  

Finally, pupils study civil rights campaigns in Britain and America when they will study events such as the implementation of the Jim Crow Laws, bus boycotts and the murder of Stephen Lawrence. 

GCSE

Pupils lucky enough to continue to study History at GCSE will follow the Edexcel specification.  GCSE History is a writing-based subject requiring skills of analysis, evaluation and interpretation. 

Course information: 

  • Paper 1: Medicine in Britain, c1250-present and the British sector of the Western Front 1914 – 1918: injuries, treatment and the trenches.  (30% of total qualification)
    • Written exam: 1hr 20mins
  • Paper 2: Superpower relations and the Cold War 1941 – 1991.  (20% of total qualification)
    Paper 2:  Early Elizabethan England 1558 – 1588.  (20% of total qualification)
    • Written exam: 1hr 50 mins
  • Paper 3: Nazi and Weimar Republic 1918 – 1939.  (30% of qualification) 
    • Written exam: 1hr 30mins

GCSE History is assessed through four assessment objectives: 

  • AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the key features and characteristics of the periods studied (35%).
  • AO2: Explain and analyse historical events and periods studied using secondorder1 historical concepts (35%).
  • AO3: Analyse, evaluate and use sources (contemporary to the period) to make substantiated judgements, in the context of historical events studied (15%).
  • AO4: Analyse, evaluate and make substantiated judgements about interpretations (including how and why interpretations may differ) in the context of historical events studied (15%). 

Pupils will complete regular written exam-style questions during the academic year where they will be given teacher feedback on how to improve. Year 10 pupils will sit a mid-year mock in January and end of year mock exams in the summer term.  Year 11 pupils will sit mock exams in November and in March. 

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