History

Introducing pupils to some of the ‘big concepts’ and themes that have shaped England and Europe in the period c700-c1700.

Year 7

The aim of the curriculum in Year 7 is to introduce pupils to some of the big concepts and themes that have shaped England and Europe in the period 55BCE-c1700CE. Ideas such as: invasion, warfare, power, the church, and monarchy are explored via a range of enquiries. These enquiries include: the Roman invasion, the Norman invasion, the Black Death, the Reformation, and the execution of King Charles I.

Skills introduced and developed in Year 7 include: describing; explaining; making inferences from sources; source analysis and evaluating sources; explaining consequences; analysing narratives of the past; explaining the historical significance and importance of an event; understanding and analysing interpretations; evaluating and making judgements; arguing a point of view on a historical debate; and using historical vocabulary correctly and securely.

Year 8

Year 8 builds upon the themes and concepts of Year 7 by introducing topics that have helped to develop the modern world. There is a deliberate focus to ensure that our pupils understand the importance of a range of histories from around the world and how they have created the society they live in today. Ideas and skills from Year 7 are built upon and new ideas such as empire, industrialisation, imperialism, and suffrage. These enquiries are explored via a range of topics including: the Abolition of the Slave Trade, Britain’s Industrial Revolution, the British Empire, and World War One.

Year 9

Year 9 is a transition year in the History curriculum, our intention is to complete pupils historical understanding and schemas of the modern world whilst also getting all pupils into a position to be GCSE ready. As a result, the curriculum in Year 9 is designed to develop confidence and engage pupils in historical enquiries to develop as independent learners and as critical and reflective thinkers. There is a deliberate attempt to interleave and weave key concepts and key themes throughout Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9. Ideas and skills from Year 7 and 8 are built upon via enquiries into the Rise of Nazism in Germany and Communism in Russia, the Holocaust (MTS is a UCL Holocaust Beacon School), Civil Rights in the US, and the Cold War.

Historical concepts are mapped and explicitly taught throughout Y7-Y11. Each historical enquiry is designed with carefully designed enquiry foci and several conceptual aims in mind. Pupils are assessed formatively on each enquiry knowledge and concept focus. They are then assessed twice per year in unseen summative exams on their knowledge, understanding of key concepts, and understanding of historical concepts.

Year 10

In Year 10 pupils that have selected to study GCSE History will study Edexcel GCSE 9-1 History. The options we study are:

  • Paper 1: Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000–present and Whitechapel, c1870–c1900: crime, policing and the inner city
  • Paper 2: Option B3: Henry VIII and his ministers, 1509–40
  • Paper 2: Option P3: The American West, c1835–c1895
  • Paper 3: Option 31: Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918–39

Year 11

In Year 11 we continue our study of Edexcel GCSE 9-1 History.

Assessment in Year 10 and 11 is done via mock exams drawn from past papers. All mocks are standardised and marking is checked by the departments experienced Pearson Edexcel associate examiners.