Share:

HISTORY

The CAN history curriculum is lively, interesting and extremely useful for gaining an understanding of the world we live in. The history department has a dedicated and knowledgeable team of staff. They bring passion to the subject and aim to develop students’ understanding of the different topics studied through engaging and interesting lessons. In choosing GCSE history, students can expect to use their qualification towards study at further education A Level and degree level. 

KS3

Our Key Stage 3 history curriculum aims to provide a broad and balanced sweep through history. From the beginning of the 1st century to the modern day, our curriculum runs in chronological order, with a few key thematic studies included at the end of the year to prepare students for key concepts and GCSE level higher order concepts.  

Aims of the curriculum: 

  • To develop a genuine interest in and enthusiasm for the study of past events and people 
  • For students to realise that the world of the present was formed by the events of the past, and that the ripples of these events continue to affect the world of the future. 
  • By studying events, choices and decisions of the past, students will be able to reflect upon, assess and better understand the world and community they live in. 
  • To promote the development of historical skills such as problem solving, communication, debating, reasoning and organisational skills. 
  • To help students better understand the various cultures of the world. 
  • To develop the many different forms of literacy. Our lessons encourage students to improve their reading, writing, visual and information literacy. 

Topics at KS3 include:

Year 7:  

  • An introduction to history  
  • Medieval History  
  • The Norman Conquest 
  • The Crusades 
  • The Black Death  
  • Thematic study – Migration 

Year 8:  

  • The reformation  
  • Elizabeth and the Spanish Armada  
  • The English Civil War 
  • The industrial revolution  
  •  Thematic study – Crime and punishment  

 Year 9:  

  • WW1 – causes  
  • WW1 – consequences  
  • Suffragettes – Women’s rights 
  • The Cold War  
  • WW2 – Hitlers rise to power 
  • Thematic study – Slavery and civil rights 

 KS4

At Key Stage 4 students follow Edexcel History. The course is 100% examination based and comprises four units: 

  1. Medicine and public health from 250AD
  2. Elizabeth 1st and her reign 
  3. Germany after World War One and the rise of Hitler and the Nazis 
  4. Superpower relations and the cold war  

ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES

There are opportunities for trips to historical sites such as the WW1 battlefields in Belgium and France, the Imperial War Museums in Duxford and London, and Norwich Castle Museum. 

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES LINKED TO THIS SUBJECT

Employers value the research, analytical, teamwork and communication skills that history students develop throughout their GCSE study. Career opportunities include: archaeologist, museum curator, librarian, solicitor, forensic criminologist, lawyer, barrister, journalist, teacher and political research assistant.