History Department
Introduction
The History Department is a vibrant, innovative and thriving part of the Ash Manor community. Taught by subject specialists, with interests ranging from the Ancient World, through the Early Modern period, up to the 20th Century, History continues to be a popular choice for students at GCSE, who value the academic rigour of the discipline and the skills that give them wider choices in further education and the world of employment.
Our focus on developing historical skills allows our students to become critical thinkers.
In Year 7 & 8
Students learn a broad range of topics designed to give them an understanding of British history, its links to historical events in other cultures and countries.
Year 7
The Roman Empire
The Norman Conquest
The Crusades
The First Parliaments
The Tudors
Year 8
The English Civil War
Oliver Cromwell
Industrial Age Britain
The Slave Trade
The First World War
The Age of Piracy
Year 9
A large proportion of students opt to continue their study of History into Year 9. Our Year 9 curriculum helps student develop the investigation skills required by GCSE.
Hitler and the Nazis
Stalin’s Russia
The Second World War
The Holocaust
The Cold War
Civil Rights Movement in the USA
Key Stage 4 - History GCSE
Examining Board: Edexcel
SUBJECT DESCRIPTION
We follow a course that gives students the opportunity to engage in a range of different units that cover hundreds of years of History. In Year 10, students will complete a thematic study which will give them an opportunity to look at a range of historical periods while charting the changing nature of a particular topic. This will be followed up a British depth study of Elizabethan England. In Year 11, students will learn about Germany 1918-39 and the Cold War.
COURSE CONTENT
The course gives students the opportunity to acquire an understanding of the past; investigate major events, use sources critically and analyse interpretations. The specification has four modules:
1 Medicine through Time, c1250–present and British sector of the Western Front, 1914-18
Students undertake a development study that investigates the major changes in medicine from the Middle Ages to the modern day. Particular attention is paid to the beliefs in the cause of illness, the development of surgery and combatting problems such as cholera. We conclude with an in depth study of injuries and treatment sustained during the First World War.
2 Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918 – 1939
Students undertake a study of the rise and fall of democracy in Germany in the period after the First World War. This is followed by an in-depth study of life in Nazi Germany. We focus on the experiences of different groups under the Nazis, such as young people, women, workers and Jews.
3 Early Elizabethan England, 1558-88
Students will gain an understanding of Elizabethan society and the struggle to stabilise religion after the death of Mary Tudor. They will study the threats Elizabeth faced from home and abroad, in particular the threat from Catholics, Puritans and the Spanish Armada.
4 Superpower relations and the Cold War, 1941-1991
This unit will focus on the development of hostilities between east and west. There is focus on three key locations at this time – Berlin, Czechoslovakia and Cuba. Students will understand how close the world came to World War 3 and how the Soviet Union eventually came to an end.
ASSESSMENT ARRANGEMENTS
Paper 1 – Medicine through Time, c1250–present and British sector of the Western Front, 1914-18: 1 hour 15 minutes - 30% of final mark
Paper 2 – Early Elizabethan England, 1558-88 and Superpower relations and the Cold War, 1941-1991: 1 hour 45 minutes - 40% of final mark
Paper 3 – Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918 – 1939: 1 hour 20 minutes - 30% of final mark
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Employers who see that you have a qualification in History know that you have developed certain skills which can be applied to other situations. They will know that: you can understand what motivates people, are able to gather and read different kinds of information; and you will be able to communicate clearly and have learned to express yourself verbally. A GCSE in History is a well- respected qualification and is a highly regarded subject for further education. History is a good qualification for lawyers, journalists, writers, accountants, TV researchers, the police, politicians, civil servants to name but a few possible careers.
Key Stage 4 – Ancient History
Examining Board: OCR
SUBJECT DESCRIPTION
The Ancient World has shaped our world today; from the language we speak to the entertainments we enjoy. This lively and exciting course will help students understand modern democracy, warfare and culture. Students will re-create great ancient battles and develop an understanding of what drove key figures of the Ancient World to greatness.
Hollywood epics have immortalised individuals like Alexander and Cleopatra. This course will allow students to explore how accurate these interpretations are.
COURSE CONTENT & STRUCTURE
This GCSE looks at the events and key figures of The Ancient World through a range of printed and visual sources. This course is eligible for the Humanities section of the EBacc
The course consists of four modules:
ASSESSMENT ARRANGEMENTS
Three written examinations: 1 hour 15 minutes 25% each Controlled assessment: Completed in class 25%
SKILLS DEVELOPED AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Ancient History equips students with a wide range of skills useful for higher education and employment. This course will encourage students to think critically, evaluate information and write well-constructed arguments.
Ancient History is highly valued by universities and employers.
Extra Curricular Trips
Along with delivering the current curriculum, the History Department is also heavily involved in enhancing student experience through after-school clubs and organising visits to sites of historical interest, both at home and abroad. In the last few years the department has undertaken trips to the World War One Battlefields, Auschwitz in Poland, the sites of Ancient Greece, Rome and Pompeii.
Summary:
GCSE History
We currently study the Edexcel GCSE and complete four modules:
GCSE Ancient History
We also offer OCR’s GCSE in Ancient History. The units studied include:
The History Department is a vibrant, innovative and thriving part of the Ash Manor community. Taught by subject specialists, with interests ranging from the Ancient World, through the Early Modern period, up to the 20th Century, History continues to be a popular choice for students at GCSE, who value the academic rigour of the discipline and the skills that give them wider choices in further education and the world of employment.
Our focus on developing historical skills allows our students to become critical thinkers.
In Year 7 & 8
Students learn a broad range of topics designed to give them an understanding of British history, its links to historical events in other cultures and countries.
Year 7
The Roman Empire
The Norman Conquest
The Crusades
The First Parliaments
The Tudors
Year 8
The English Civil War
Oliver Cromwell
Industrial Age Britain
The Slave Trade
The First World War
The Age of Piracy
Year 9
A large proportion of students opt to continue their study of History into Year 9. Our Year 9 curriculum helps student develop the investigation skills required by GCSE.
Hitler and the Nazis
Stalin’s Russia
The Second World War
The Holocaust
The Cold War
Civil Rights Movement in the USA
Key Stage 4 - History GCSE
Examining Board: Edexcel
SUBJECT DESCRIPTION
We follow a course that gives students the opportunity to engage in a range of different units that cover hundreds of years of History. In Year 10, students will complete a thematic study which will give them an opportunity to look at a range of historical periods while charting the changing nature of a particular topic. This will be followed up a British depth study of Elizabethan England. In Year 11, students will learn about Germany 1918-39 and the Cold War.
COURSE CONTENT
The course gives students the opportunity to acquire an understanding of the past; investigate major events, use sources critically and analyse interpretations. The specification has four modules:
1 Medicine through Time, c1250–present and British sector of the Western Front, 1914-18
Students undertake a development study that investigates the major changes in medicine from the Middle Ages to the modern day. Particular attention is paid to the beliefs in the cause of illness, the development of surgery and combatting problems such as cholera. We conclude with an in depth study of injuries and treatment sustained during the First World War.
2 Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918 – 1939
Students undertake a study of the rise and fall of democracy in Germany in the period after the First World War. This is followed by an in-depth study of life in Nazi Germany. We focus on the experiences of different groups under the Nazis, such as young people, women, workers and Jews.
3 Early Elizabethan England, 1558-88
Students will gain an understanding of Elizabethan society and the struggle to stabilise religion after the death of Mary Tudor. They will study the threats Elizabeth faced from home and abroad, in particular the threat from Catholics, Puritans and the Spanish Armada.
4 Superpower relations and the Cold War, 1941-1991
This unit will focus on the development of hostilities between east and west. There is focus on three key locations at this time – Berlin, Czechoslovakia and Cuba. Students will understand how close the world came to World War 3 and how the Soviet Union eventually came to an end.
ASSESSMENT ARRANGEMENTS
Paper 1 – Medicine through Time, c1250–present and British sector of the Western Front, 1914-18: 1 hour 15 minutes - 30% of final mark
Paper 2 – Early Elizabethan England, 1558-88 and Superpower relations and the Cold War, 1941-1991: 1 hour 45 minutes - 40% of final mark
Paper 3 – Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918 – 1939: 1 hour 20 minutes - 30% of final mark
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Employers who see that you have a qualification in History know that you have developed certain skills which can be applied to other situations. They will know that: you can understand what motivates people, are able to gather and read different kinds of information; and you will be able to communicate clearly and have learned to express yourself verbally. A GCSE in History is a well- respected qualification and is a highly regarded subject for further education. History is a good qualification for lawyers, journalists, writers, accountants, TV researchers, the police, politicians, civil servants to name but a few possible careers.
Key Stage 4 – Ancient History
Examining Board: OCR
SUBJECT DESCRIPTION
The Ancient World has shaped our world today; from the language we speak to the entertainments we enjoy. This lively and exciting course will help students understand modern democracy, warfare and culture. Students will re-create great ancient battles and develop an understanding of what drove key figures of the Ancient World to greatness.
Hollywood epics have immortalised individuals like Alexander and Cleopatra. This course will allow students to explore how accurate these interpretations are.
COURSE CONTENT & STRUCTURE
This GCSE looks at the events and key figures of The Ancient World through a range of printed and visual sources. This course is eligible for the Humanities section of the EBacc
The course consists of four modules:
- Alexander the Great
Having conquered much of the known world by the age of 25, Alexander the Great is considered to be one of the greatest military commanders of all time. This module looks at his relationship with members of his family and his military victories. - Hannibal’s Invasion and Defeat, 218 – 146 BC
The Carthaginian commander marched his army of over 40,000 and 37 war elephants and attacked the Roman Republic. Hannibal won many decisive victories over the armies of Rome and occupied part of Italy for fifteen years. - Agrippina and her impact on Roman Politics
- Agrippina, mother of Emperor Nero, is one of the most significant women in the Ancient world. She amassed significant power in Ancient Rome and came to a gruesome end. We will examine the life and rule of Agrippina and her relationship with the Emperors Claudius and Nero.
- Celtic Britain
We will look at the structure of Celtic society religion and myth in the Celtic world and the nature of Egyptian warfare.
ASSESSMENT ARRANGEMENTS
Three written examinations: 1 hour 15 minutes 25% each Controlled assessment: Completed in class 25%
SKILLS DEVELOPED AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Ancient History equips students with a wide range of skills useful for higher education and employment. This course will encourage students to think critically, evaluate information and write well-constructed arguments.
Ancient History is highly valued by universities and employers.
Extra Curricular Trips
Along with delivering the current curriculum, the History Department is also heavily involved in enhancing student experience through after-school clubs and organising visits to sites of historical interest, both at home and abroad. In the last few years the department has undertaken trips to the World War One Battlefields, Auschwitz in Poland, the sites of Ancient Greece, Rome and Pompeii.
Summary:
GCSE History
We currently study the Edexcel GCSE and complete four modules:
- Medicine through time, 1250 – present.
- Early Elizabethan England
- Superpower relations and the Cold War
- Weimar and Nazi Germany
GCSE Ancient History
We also offer OCR’s GCSE in Ancient History. The units studied include:
- The life and campaign of Alexander the Great
- Hannibal’s war on Rome
- The influence of Agrippina on Roman politics
