Throughout KS3, students are taken on a journey to explore over 2000 years of British History, from pre-Roman Britain all the way up to the modern age. We provide a chronological approach to the structure of our history lesson which really aids students in being able to place key events in Britain’s history such as the Norman Conquest of 1066, Henry the VIII’s break from Rome and World War I and II. During these topics we will explore multiple aspects of the enquiry and ensure students have a good understanding of the causes, events, consequences and significance of what they have learnt.

KS3

Year 7 Term 1:

In this term students will bridge the gap from primary to secondary history looking firstly at the key skills students need to understand, that of chronology and what makes an event significant. Following this students will look at Britain’s History before 1066, focusing on Iron Age and Roman Britain. Having covered areas of history that may have been covered to varying depths at primary school students will then look in depth at the events of 1066 and the Norman Conquest that followed. The aim of these two modules is to give students an understanding of how Britain changed over time and the impact migration/invasion had on Britain. Students will assess the extent to which the Normans changed Britain’s society, politics and economy in comparison to what came before.

Year 7 Term 2:

In this term students will study the social, religious, political and economic changes that occurred throughout the Medieval and Tudor periods. This will be done through the selection of key events in the period, including but not limited to the Black Death and Magna Carta. Through this students will be able to see the early foundations of modern Britain as well as begin to assess how far Britain changed. The second half of this Term will see an in depth focus on the religious changes during the Tudor Period to understand this significant event in British History and understand not only why Britain is a protestant country historically but also how religious changes led to significant events.

Year 7 Term 3:

In this term students will finish off their study of Tudor Britain before examining social, religious, political and economic changes that occurred through the Stuart period. There will be a particular focus upon the Gun powder Plot and the English Civil War in order to understand the political changes this demonstrates and understand why we have a constitutional monarchy. Finally we will examine the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London to explore the social changes of the period.

Year 8 Term 1 and start of Term 2:

In this term students will first focus on the British Empire, its impact on Britain and its impact on the world. Students will assess both the social, economic and political changes Empire brought to Britain but also these changes in the context of countries and areas that were subjugated to British imperial rule. The aim here is for students to understand the legacy of Empire not only in the context of Britain but the world. Following on from this students will study the Transatlantic Slave trade, looking at Britain’s role in creating and ending the trade as well as the legacy this event has left on the world. These two units are thought provoking ones and students will be encouraged to voice their opinions in order for us to address negative aspects of Britain’s history while also understanding how this period underpinned developments that we will look at next year.

Year 8 Term 2:

In this term students will look at the Industrial Revolution in Britain, assessing the extent to which Britain changed socially, politically and economically as a result. We will link back to previous terms to allow students to understand that events do not happen in isolation as well as looking at specific case studies to allow student to understand what it was like to be in the Industrial period. There will be a specific look at how the Industrial Revolution impacted Birmingham directly, framing investigations of mines, factories and society through local case studies. This will allow an understanding of how Birmingham became a major UK city.

Year 8 Term 3:

In this term students have the chance to explore societal changes up to and into the 20th century. The initial focus will be to explore the class system of the Industrial Period to look at that time period through a different perspective before exploring the fight for voting rights and the creation of democracy through wider voting rights and trade unions. Following this students will explore the fight for equality for Women, BAME, LGBTQ+ and those with disabilities. This gives students the opportunity to reflect on the struggles, both past and ongoing, that different groups in society go through to gain the same rights as others.

Year 9 (2022-2023):

Term 1: The first ‘Great War’ and the establishment of dictatorships.

  • Enquiry: Why did WWI commence in 1914?
  • Enquiry: What was life like for soldiers fighting in the First World War?
  • Enquiry: How did Hitler come to power in Germany ?
  • Enquiry: How far did this impact the lives of Germans?
  • Enquiry: Was Germany the only country to become a dictatorship in the Interwar Period?
  • Enquiry: How did a World War develop in the late 1930s?

Term 2: The Second World War

  • Enquiry: How successful was Britain during the early stages of the Second World War?
  • Enquiry: How did WWII impact people in Birmingham?
  • Enquiry: Why did Britain win the War in Europe and how did soldiers experience the war?
  • Enquiry: What was happening in the Asian Theatre of WWII?
  • Enquiry: What was the Holocaust and why was it allowed to happen?

Term 3: Britain in the Modern World

  • Enquiry: Why are international relations the way they are today?
  • Enquiry: How far did Britain build a better society after WWII?

Year 9 (2022-2023) Term 1:

Having explored the fight for equality over time at the end of year 8 students will return to the chronological narrative by exploring the causes and events of the First World War. We will look at Britain’s initial reaction to war and how this support dwindled once the true horrors of trench warfare came to light. We will also investigate the contribution of colonial troops and how these contributions were pivotal in the success of the war.  After this students will investigate events following WWI with an aim of understanding how in this period dictatorships were able to be created. They will do this through a focus on Germany between 1918 and 1939 assessing the impact of world events such as the Treaty of Versailles, Hyperinflation and the Great Depression created an opportunity for Hitler to come to power. Students will have a chance to question the role of the media in this and what we could do to ensure this does not occur again in the future. Following this, students will delve into Nazi Germany, learning about how the lives of millions were irrevocably shaped by the actions of Hitler’s terrible regime, and how these factors paved a way for WWII.  

Year 9 (2022-2023) Term 2:

Students will look to understand some of the turning points of the war in Europe. Following this students will have the opportunity to explore the impact WWII had on individuals, both soldiers and those on the home front, with a focus on Birmingham. Furthermore, students will learn that WWII was a global conflict and the experiences of soldiers differed dependent on their theatre of war. This also allows students to question the moral implications of the decision to use atomic weaponry in the pacific theatre. Again this term gives students a chance to question and engage drawing parallels to modern issues.

Finally Students will engage with the Holocaust and other genocides with the aim of answering the following two questions: Why do people hate? And, what can we do to prevent this? The focus of this unit will be on the Holocaust itself, therefore it will be approached respectfully and appropriately using national guidance before moving onto a more overarching look at genocides to open conversations to address the above questions.

Year 9 (2022-2023) Term 3:

This term focuses on bridging students’ knowledge between WWII and the modern day, to gain an understanding of why Britain declined in power and what are relative power is in the world today. This will see students exploring the decline of traditional European Powers as well as the rise of the USA, Russia and international organisations such as the UN throughout the 20th century. Students will also given an introduction in to the Cold War, which will be delved in to at greater depth in Y11.

Following this students will look at the 20th century with a focus upon changes in Britain, exploring the creation of the Welfare State and the ‘liberalisation’ of Britain’, looking at abortion and contraception, abolition of the death penalty, decriminalisation of homosexuality, Changes in music and fashion among others. Students will round off their KS3 studies with an examination of migration to Britain throughout history.

KS4:

PaperPaper 1: Thematic study and historic environmentPaper 2 part A: British depth study (Combined paper)Paper 2 part B: Period study (Combined paper)Paper 3: Modern depth study
What Topic will I be learning?Medicine in Britain, c1250–present
and The British sector of the Western Front, 1914–18: injuries, treatment and the trenches.
Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060–88Superpower relations and the Cold War, 1941–91Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918–39
Key content:Medicine in Medieval Britain

The Medical Renaissance in England

Medicine in the eighteenth and nineteenth century Britain

Medicine in Modern Britain
The British sector of the Western Front, 1914-18: injuries, treatment and the trenches
Anglo Saxon society

The Succession Crisis and the Norman Conquest

William I securing power over England

Anglo-Saxon resistance
Norman changes; politics and society

The end of Williams reign
The Origins of the Cold War, 1941-58

Cold War crises, 1958-70

The end of the Cold War, 1970-91
The establishment of the Weimar Republic

The Weimar Republic 1918-29

Hitler’s rise to power 1919-33

Nazi control and establishing dictatorship, 1933-39

Life in Nazi Germany,1933-39
Length of exam1 hour 15 minutes1 hour 45 minutes (Combined paper)1 hour 45 minutes (Combined paper)1 hour 20 minutes
Number of Marks52323252
Weighting30%20%20%30% 

Year 10:

Students will engage in a thematic topic called ‘Medicine through Time’ which they will continue into year 10. During this students will look to gain a firm grasp of the social implications medicine and public health has played in British History. This allows students an overarching narrative of British medicine with which students can gain an insight into the social constructs of Britain over time.

Once students have completed their medicine study and linking this to the GCSE specification they will look at the British depth study: Anglo-Saxon and Norman England. This topic aims to examine in depth the major changes William brought to England. This allows students to develop their comparison skills. Through this comparison students will understand how Britain changed its social, economic, political and religious landscape. Students will have studied this in year 7 and this acts a foundation which we can use to examine specific events with added detail.

Year 11:

Students will complete their non-British depth study: Weimar Germany 1918-39.  Initially this will focus on the events between 1918 and 1933 looking at key points in Germany’s history throughout this time, including the creation of their constitution, internal turmoil, the rise of the Nazi party and the Great Depression. This is taught through the examining of sources and interpretations so acts as an opportunity to develop their analytical skills.

Following this students will focus on the events that occurred between 1933 and 1939, understanding the changes that the Nazi brought to the country. Again this is an opportunity for students to develop their source skills and research techniques.

Once this has been completed students will look at their final topic: Superpower Relations. This topic aims to demonstrate how modern international politics has impacted the world and shapes the political landscapes of today. It is also intended that students will be able to understand the importance foreign relations can play on the domestic as well as international role of a country’s government through the lenses of the Cold War.

KS5:

During students time studying A-level history at Kingshurst students will complete the following courses:

  • Paper 1: British period study and enquiry: England 1547-1603: Later Tudors
  • Paper 2: Non-British period study: The Cold War in Europe 1941-1995
  • Paper 3: Thematic study and historical interpretations: Civil Rights in the USA 1865-1992

In addition to this this you will write a 3-4000 word essay based on the Cold War unit, this allows you to carry out your own investigation into a specific aspect of the Cold War and follow your own lines of enquiry, building the independence that you will need to be successful once you have completed the course.

Each topic is assessed using different styles of question, see below:

PaperPaper 1: British period study and enquiryPaper 2: Non-British period studyPaper 3: Thematic study and historical interpretationsNEA: Topic based essay

 

 

What will I learn?Within this unit you will learn about the Mid Tudor Crisis and the stability of the Tudor Monarchy from Henry VIII until Queen Elizabeth I. You will investigate the political intrigue of the time through contemporary sources and historian’s accounts.Within this unit you will investigate the causes, events and consequences of key aspects of the Cold War in Europe.Within this unit you will investigate the way different social groups fought for and gained Civil Rights in America. The social groups in question are:

 

·      African Americans

·      Trade Unions

·      Native Americans

·      Women

Within this unit you will have the opportunity to investigate your own enquiry question through your own key investigation.
Length of exam1 hour 30 minutes1 hour2 hours 30 minutesCoursework so no exam.
How many lessons a fortnight334Replaces the three Cold War lessons at the end of year 12.
Number of Marks50308040
Weighting25%15%40%20%
Exam QuestionsQuestion 1: Four sources given – assess how far they support a particular view (30 marks)

 

Question 2: Choose one of two essay questions (20 marks)

Choose from two sets of questions. Either 1a AND 1b or 2a AND 2b

 

Question (a): Which of the following (two options given to assess the impact of (10 marks)

Question (b): Essay question (20 marks)

Question 1: Evaluate two interpretations and decide which is the most convincing (30 marks)

 

Question 2: Three possible questions, choose two (25 marks)

Essay question based on the Cold War.

Learning Journeys

Learning Journey: Year 7 History

Learning Journey: Year 8 History

Learning Journey: Year 9 History

Learning Journey: Year 10; History

Learning Journey: Year 11; History

Year 12 Learning Journey

KS5 Learning Journey all topics

Knowledge Organisers

Knowledge Organiser: Yr 7 History; What happened before 1066?

Knowledge Organiser: Yr 9 History; Why are international relations the way they are today?

Knowledge Organiser: Year 8 History How did the growth of British imperial power come at the expense of Native peoples?

Knowledge Organiser: Yr 7 History; How did the crises of 1066 develop?

Knowledge Organiser: Year 8 History How did growing British power impact enslaved people?

Knowledge Organiser: Yr 7 History; Normans change life in Britain – 1

Knowledge Organiser: Year 8 History How did British colonial rule impact cultures around the world?

Knowledge Organiser: GCSE History Paper 2, Section B – Anglo-Saxon and Norman England Life in Anglo-Saxon England

Knowledge Organiser: GCSE History Paper 3; Modern Depth Study: Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918-39 The impact of WWI, the forming of the Weimar Constitution and its initial problems 1918-1920

KS5 Knowledge Organiser – African Americans

KS5 Knowledge Organiser – Cold War

KS5 Knowledge Organiser – Elizabeth

KS5 Knowledge Organiser – Trade Unions

KS5 Knowledge Organiser – Tudors

KS5 Knowledge Organiser – Women