History

Curriculum Intent

The study of History – to understand, analyse and interpret the past – is important both because of its own inherent value and also to help understand, analyse and interpret the present.

To elaborate, we aim to encourage a love of History in our students though the study of the stories, controversies and events of the past, because the development of such rich and entertaining knowledge is valuable in itself. Such study also allows students to place themselves and the UK in the rich tapestry of global human history. Moreover, History develops skills that are vital in the modern world, such as the ability to create and deliver logical arguments, view information with academic scepticism and to debate and evaluate issues in depth. 

Intended curriculum outcomes:

At Holcombe we aim to deliver the following ambitious outcomes for our students through our curriculum. Students will:

  • Be aspirational and ready for the next step in life
  • Achieve high quality academic outcomes
  • Develop as effective, efficient, resilient learners who can work independently towards ambitious goals
  • Develop an awareness of their own strengths and acquire effective habits to be successful at school and beyond
  • Develop long term knowledge and skills which can be effectively deployed in new circumstances.
  • Develop the cultural capital to be able to successfully engage with a wide variety of social situations
  • Develop an awareness of their place as a citizen in the school, wider community and the world beyond

Key Stage 3

Key Stage 4

Years 12 and 13

Key Stage 3

All students study History at KS3.  Their study of history helps to develop literacy skills whilst developing an understanding of the past and their place in the current world.  Students will be able to consider a range of different historical interpretations and to develop their own views on a range of topics and individuals, through the use of contemporary source material.  They will be encouraged to engage in structured historical research and develop core skills of benefit to them, not only in History, but across the wider curriculum.

Students in Years 7, 8 and 9 will study a diverse range of topics including ‘Hastings: 1066 and Beyond’, ‘The Slave Trade’, ‘The Causes of the First World War’ and ‘The English Civil War.’

 

Year 7

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
Original Settlers in BritainHistory of Trauma and Crisis in BritainThe TudorsStuarts and the English Civil WarGreat Mysteries of HistoryThe Eccentrics of History

 

 

Year 8

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
Victorian LifeThe Suffrage MovementThe Slave TradeGenocides around the WorldFirst World War: The Global PerspectiveThe Cold War

 

 

Year 9

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
Legacy of the British EmpireThe History of South AfricaDictators around the WorldThe Development of the USA:
1929-2000		The Development of the USA: 1929-2000The Development of the USA:
1929-2000

Key Stage 4

GCSE History is a successful and popular subject at Holcombe Grammar School, with a clear path of progression to A Level study.  It is taught by fully qualified and experienced teachers.

Aims of the Course

The Department aims to provide an engaging and interesting syllabus that teaches pupils a range of thematic issues and historical skills.   Pupils will develop a range of historical skills such as the use of source work, comparison, validity and interpretation that will support the development of high levels of literacy.

Assessment

Assessment will be entirely exam based, with all exams at the end of the course. The combined exams will take 4 hours.

Topics

Students will study a diverse range of topics including ‘Germany in Transition: 1919-39’, ‘Development of the USA: 1929-2000’, ‘Changes in Health and Medicine: c500-Present’ and ‘The Elizabethan Age: 1558-1603’.

 

Year 10

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
Germany in Transition:
1919-1939		Germany in Transition:
1919-1939		Germany in Transition:
1919-1939		The Elizabethan Age:
1558-1603		The Elizabethan Age:
1558-1603		The Elizabethan Age:
1558-1603

 

 

Year 11

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
Development in the USA: 1929-2000Development of the USA: 1929-2000Development of the USA: 1929-2000GCSE Revision and Exam SkillsGCSE Revision and Exam SkillsGCSE Exams

Years 12 and 13

The study of History will provide a sound basis for both further education and entering the world of work.   History provides vital forensic and literary skills and is a sound basis for professions where concise, accurate reporting is important.  Students will develop a range of skills which will be of significant use to them both in further education and future employment.  The study of History helps students to improve as effective and individual learners, and as critical and reflective thinkers.  Students will learn to question the world around them rather than to simply accept the views and beliefs of others.

 

Year 12

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
Britain 1625-1701: Conflict …   Russia in Revolution:1894-1924Britain 1625-1701: Conflict …   Russia in Revolution:1894-1924Britain 1625-1701: Conflict …   Russia in Revolution:1894-1924Britain 1625-1701: Conflict …   Russia in Revolution:1894-1924Britain 1625-1701: Conflict …   Russia in Revolution:1894-1924Revision, Recap and Exam Skills, GCE Coursework

 

 

Year 13

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
Civil Rights and Race Relations in the USA: 1950-2009, GCE CourseworkCivil Rights and Race Relations in the USA: 1850-2009, GCE CourseworkCivil Rights and Race Relations in the USA: 1850-2009, GCE CourseworkCivil Rights and Race Relations in the USA: 1850-2009, GCE CourseworkRevision, Recap and Exam Skills

Online Learning Support

Home learning is supported and greatly encouraged by the History Department. This is enabled through blended learning opportunities and the availability of a wide range of resources, many of which are available online and some of which can be borrowed from department members. Both whole class and one to one support, where appropriate, can be delivered through a range of ways including the use of Microsoft Teams, SMHW and email.

Careers

The study of history offers clear preparation for a wide range of university courses.  It also prepares students for the world of work by developing a wide range of transferable skills such as investigation, organisation and communication.  Students will prepare for university study by developing as effective and independent learners, and as critical and thinking learners with lively, curious and enquiring minds.

British Values

British Values are at the very core of History at Holcombe Grammar School. During students’ time studying History, they will be given the opportunity to understand why Britain is the way it is for them. Throughout our curriculum we look explicitly at all of the fundamental British Values., with the curriculum providing a wide and varied range of examples allowing students to consider British Values and the role they play in shaping our diverse and tolerant society. Some of these opportunities are identified below:

  • Democracy is revisited from its earliest moments in British history with the Saxons all the way to the making of modern democracy in Britain today.
  • Rule of Law is considered across a number of topics including, Protest: The Power of the Church and The End of Slavery.
  • Tolerance of different Cultures and Religions is an area which the History department has given particular attention to, and can be seen in topics such as immigration through time, Reformation and Counter Reformation, Black Tudors and The East India Company. The catastrophic consequences of a lack of tolerance are featured when considering the impact of dictatorship and examples of genocide.
  • Individual liberty is explored through consideration of increasing rights for women and the ending of the slave trade.
  • Mutual Respect has a light shone on it through topics such as British Civil Rights, the role of women during the First World War and Windrush.
  • Individual Liberty is considered not only through the topics we teach but also through the way we talk about the past and its relationship to the present.