History at Key Stage 3
Our KS3 curriculum is the foundation of our work. We have recently redesigned the curriculum to support a thematic approach, where each year, students study a theme across a broad period.
Y7 focus on British history, and the shift of power from 1066 to the modern day. We begin learning about how Kings and Queens have ruled the nation alongside the Church in the Middle Ages. We also study how this changed with the rise of parliament and the beginnings of democracy. Finally, students consider how groups such as the chartists and the suffragettes have campaigned for the right to vote for everyone in society, leading us to our current democracy.
Y8 study the theme of Empire. At the start of the year, students look at ancient empires such as Rome, the Islamic Empire and the Empires of West Africa. Students then study the transatlantic trade in enslaved peoples and how it was eventually abolished. The middle of the year focuses on the British Empire; how and why it grew and its impact on Britain, its colonies and the world until World War One. At the end of the year, students consider the impact of Empire on modern Britain, considering issues such as migration, decolonisation and modern British identity.
In Y9, our theme is protest, rebellion, and revolt. We begin by looking at medieval and early modern rebellions to understand why people challenged authority in the past. Then, we study the industrial period, asking why popular protest movements grew and considering why they were successful in creating trade unions, gaining workers’ rights and the abolition of slavery. In the spring, students look at Germany, considering how the Nazi party came to power and how the Nazi state operated. Students also spend time reflecting on the Holocaust. At the end of the year, we study World War Two and post-war Britain through migration, the creation of the welfare state and the NHS. We end with an investigation into the miners strikes and other modern protests movements.
