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History

 

Curriculum Overview

History Vision

 At St. Aidan’s, the History curriculum encourages an in-depth understanding of British, local, and global history, cultivating critical thinking and historical inquiry skills from Key Stage 3 through to Key Stage 4. Our chronological approach enables students to grasp the significance of events, changes, and continuities across time. Beginning with Prehistoric Britain, students explore key periods such as Medieval England, the Industrial Revolution, and the World Wars, linking national developments to local contexts like the Darlington Railway. 

 

Key skills like source analysis, cause and consequence, and historical interpretation are embedded throughout the course, with increasing complexity as students progress. The curriculum also builds literacy skills through historical inference, promoting clear expression of opinions and evidence-based arguments. 

 

In Key Stage 4, the GCSE curriculum deepens students’ understanding of complex societal issues, focusing on thematic, depth, and modern studies, encouraging self-reflection on power, equality, and morality. Assessments emphasize source evaluation, critical analysis, and the ability to make historical interpretations independently. Through this curriculum, we aim to develop well-rounded historians who can relate the past to the present, equipped to make informed decisions and contribute thoughtfully to society. 

 

Use the link to read our History intent for KS3 and KS4.

 

 

Use the links below to explore the History curriculum journey. 

Year 7  Year 8  Year 9  Year 10  Year 11 

 

Curriculum Team 

Ms. R. Godfrey - Teacher of History

Miss E. Simpson - Teacher of History

Key Stage 4 Courses

GCSE History - Pearson

Homework

 Termly, our KS3 students are given the opportunity to display their learning by completing a humanities homework booklet. This will have worksheets perfectly designed to allow their new skills and knowledge to shine through by completing a variety of creative, comprehensive, or recall tasks. Throughout the year, there are also opportunities for students to complete extra challenges for homework if they want to further stretch and expand on their own historical knowledge.  

 

With KS4 pupils, homework is set fortnightly to ensure that, alongside their revision, they are given guided tasks to help with cognition and confidence. These could vary from exam style questions to research tasks to consolidate their understanding of new topics. Additionally, Year 11 students are given the opportunity to attend intervention sessions to practice content and skills that they want to improve. Additional homework / guided revision will be given to those who attend in order to fully consolidate their comprehension. 

Enrichment Opportunities

Integrated into the history lessons are opportunities to discuss careers and also spirituality. For example, in the history classroom, students are encouraged to look out at the world around them and consider life’s WOW moments. Students are supported to make sense of the world around them, and can also reflect on their own experiences whilst considering the big questions in life. 

 

 The termly KS3 booklet offered to year 7, year 8 and year 9 pupils is an opportunity for the student to engage in outside of curriculum learning. The students will have tasks, sources, stories and activities available to expand their historical knowledge and also their historical toolkit- using interpretations and sources! 

 

Furthermore, these tasks will allow students to engage with key themes in the field of history, for example issues relating to race, religion, equality and how that is still mirrored/seen in today’s society. 

 

Wider historical events, celebrated across the school, included Black History Month in October. As of 2024, the history department has incorporated the study of Black History throughout the school. For example, each subject had lessons to deliver to their classes focusing on ‘reclaiming the narratives’ of the past, the 2024 theme. In our weekly Acts of Worship, a famous person of black heritage will be celebrated every week in October with students getting involved by researching people and speaking about them in Act of Worship. However, throughout the year, it is our mission to fully incorporate Black History into the curriculum amongst other religions/cultures to make history at St. Aidans more diverse and inclusive of all students who study here. 

Exploring Careers in History

 Currently, we have been exploring a variety of careers throughout our studies in history. For example in year 7, students have been exploring how archaeologists dig up and research artefacts in order to construct narratives of the past. Year 8 pupils have been exploring the importance of democracy and parliament while they study the English Civil War. Furthermore, our year 9 pupils have been exploring the many roles within the military during their research of World War Two. As students’ studies become more focused at GCSE, our KS4 students begin to explore the many transferrable skills that the subject of history has to offer. An example of this could be their analysis skills or their communication skills during historical debates. KS4 students are made aware of the potential careers history could offer such as becoming an historian, working in human resources, archeology, teaching, researching, and many more!