History

Member of Staff

Miss A. Sibley: Curriculum Lead History
Mr L. Stewart: Teacher of History
Mrs L. Armitage: Teacher of Humanities

About

History is the study of the past. It is a series of compelling stories with key individuals and events that have shaped the world and the society that we now live. History allows students to understand the ‘how’ and ‘why’ and encourages them to ask questions. It also teaches students valuable lessons from the past in the hope that in some circumstances, they won’t be repeated. It provides inspirational figures that may encourage positive change to society. It is an academic subject that demands and develops students' comprehension and analytic skills for them to understand what they have read or heard.

Intent

‘Intrigue, Inspire, Ignite’

At South Wigston High School our inclusive History curriculum is designed to provide students with a broad and well sequenced high quality engaging curriculum that builds and embeds knowledge and skills to help students make sense of the world they are living in. The curriculum is planned to inspire intrigue and promote a culture of curiosity for History and a lifelong love of learning. Our intent is for all students to acquire transferrable skills that can be optimised across multiple disciplines.

Ambition: Learners are encouraged to explore complex social, political and religious historical concepts and apply their knowledge to a range of challenging questions.

Determination: Learners are supported to build resilience through active participation in lessons, self- reflection and assessments throughout the year.

Respect: Learners are taught to work together constructively and learn from one another as part of the learning experience. They are supported to show respect through their study of diverse cultural history topics.

Implementation

The History curriculum is implemented through a wide range of visual, active and kinaesthetic learning activities. The lessons are deliberately planned to facilitate regular retrieval, modelling, practice and re-teach opportunities to build on prior learning and support the embedding of knowledge for long term memory.

Key Stage 3

The History curriculum is sequenced and planned with great consideration of the development of four key learning foci (L.F’s)

LF1: Demonstrate Chronological Knowledge and Understanding
LF2: Explain Cause, Consequence and Change
LF3: Use evidence and sources to investigate the past
LF4: Interpret, judge and construct historical arguments about the past.

There is a broad and balanced Key Stage 3 curriculum which is focussed on identified fundamental GCSE skills and interwoven knowledge to secure success at Key Stage 4. All Key Stage 3 learners will:

Develop and refine a comprehensive knowledge of British History, Slavery Civil Rights and Conflict in the 20^th Century.
Use a range of sources and interpretations and learn how to analyse and evaluate information from the past which will support those continuing to GCSE.
Build confidence in their spoken and written responses and learn how to ‘speak and write like a Historian’.

Key Stage 4

At Key Stage 4 students are taught and well prepared for the demands of the public examinations. They refine the skills they have already embedded at Key Stage 3 and apply their knowledge to the examination rubric.

Assessment is used both informally in lessons to improve student confidence and in formal mock examinations to build resilience, self -reflection and prepare students for the examination process. The outcomes are used to incisively inform planning, targeted intervention and personalised learning to support the needs of all students and ensure they consistent progress in their learning. By the end of Key Stage 4 learners will have:

Developed a secure knowledge and understanding to sit 3 public examinations at the end of the course.
Gained confidence in exam skills of analysis and evaluation and be able to apply their knowledge to the public examination answers.
Demonstrated progress with some students pursuing History beyond school at Further Education institutions and as a career pathway.

Impact

History is a popular option at South Wigston where students are enthused, confident and strive to achieve. The impact of the curriculum often leads to a lifelong appreciation and love of History, with many students pursuing the subject beyond their time at South Wigston School, both in their educational career and personal life. Students will be able to utilise their knowledge and understanding of the past and the lessons learnt in the next stage of their lives to become well informed member of their community.

KS3 Progress Statements

ks3 history progress statements.pdf