Key Stage 3 History prepares students for the demands of the UL end of year tests and for the rigours of GCSE study. Students will learn a wide range of knowledge and build and develop their historical skills such as the analysis of sources and interpretations and making substantiated judgements.
Course information:
Year 7:
Students will begin the year with an introduction to chronology, historical evidence and interpretations which will form a foundation of knowledge for the study of history. Following this, students will begin their study of the medieval period by learning about empires circa the year 1000 from the east to the west. They will then explore the events of the Norman Conquest of 1066 and the reasons for William’s victory at the Battle of Hastings. The study of Norman control will show how William the Conqueror was able to effectively keep control of England and its people and how England changed under the Normans. They will then study the importance of religion in England during the Middle Ages and how much control the Church had in all aspects of life. A study of medieval medicine will focus primarily on the Black Death and its consequences in England. Following on from the Black Death, students will look at three case studies of medieval kings and the challenges they faced in maintaining their power. This will be followed by a series of lessons of the Wars of the Roses. Students will then commence learning about what Mansa Musa’s life reveals about the Mali Empire in the 14th century. Moving on from the medieval period, students will find out how life changed during the Renaissance by considering how ideas, inventions and events led to change. Finally, students finish the academic year by studying life during Tudor times.
Year 8:
Students will begin by exploring the Reformation across Europe and the reasons why Henry VIII broke with the Catholic Church. Students will then analyse how and why Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I changed the course of religion in England. They will then study key aspects of the reign of Elizabeth I including her Religious Settlement and conflict with Spain. Students will then move on to understand the political, economic and religious causes of the English Civil war of 1642. We will look at how the Civil War ended, including a local study of the Battle of Naseby. Students will also study the changes made under Oliver Cromwell and then the Restoration period up to 1688. Students will then study the British Empire and its impact on the world. This will lead onto a study of the transatlantic slave trade and the abolition of slavery. Students will explore local links with the Kettering abolitionist William Knibb. The Industrial Revolution will then be explored. Finally, students will learn about the Civil Rights movements both in the USA and the UK.
Year 9:
Students will begin by find out how and why women gained the right to vote in 1918 by considering the actions of the Suffrage movements and the impact of World War One. Then students will discover the complex causes of World War One, including imperialism, the alliance system and militarism and other short-term causes. Students will then look at life in the trenches including key events such as the Battle of the Somme. Students will go on to study the end of World War One and the consequences such as the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 and the lasting significance this had on 20th century history. Having studied the causes of World War One, students will also study the causes and key events of World War Two before focussing on how the persecution of Jews intensified in Nazi Germany and who was responsible for the Final Solution. After Easter students start their GCSE studies. Students who choose not to study History will follow the same programme of learning.
Homework:
Homework will be set each half term. Homework is in the form of pre-learning and revising key content using the platforms Satchel One and Seneca.
Assessment:
Lessons include knowledge retrieval questions to assess prior learning. Lessons involve the active use of mini whiteboards to check for understanding and to provide real time feedback and to deal with misconceptions quickly. Students will complete written assessments during the academic year where they will be given teacher feedback on how to improve. Students will sit a mid-year test in January and an end-of-year test in the summer term.
Contact:
For further information/clarification about KS3 History please contact Mrs E Chan.