History

Year 7

Summary of curriculum:

Pupils continue their journey at Grace Academy by deepening and extending their knowledge and understanding from Key Stage Two. Pupils study history chronologically, beginning with the early development of Britain during the Roman Empire and after its fall, Norman England then through to the medieval world and the significant changes of the Reformation. It is at this stage in Year 7, pupils are introduced to our enquiry-based curriculum in which they study and investigate valid historical enquiries and questions. Historical sources and interpretations are used to build pupils’ knowledge of the past, make historical claims and understand why there are different interpretations of the past.

Main Topics:

Assessment throughout the year:

Students will take three summative assessments spread out through the year and six formative assessments, one for each term.

How parents/carers can support their child’s learning:

Parents and carers can support learning by encouraging regular revision at home, discussing what their child is learning in lessons, and helping them to organise their time effectively. Supporting homework completion, promoting good attendance, and encouraging reading around the subject will all help students to make strong progress. Talking about current events, historical topics, or geographical issues can also help students to develop their understanding beyond the classroom.

Character enrichment opportunities:

Students are encouraged to develop key skills such as resilience, independence, and critical thinking. Opportunities include participating in class discussions and debates, completing independent research projects, attending revision or enrichment sessions, and engaging with extracurricular activities such as history or geography clubs, trips, and competitions. These experiences help students build confidence and curiosity while strengthening their subject knowledge.

Useful websites:

·       BBC Bitesize – clear explanations, videos, and quizzes for revision

·       Seneca Learning – structured online revision courses

·       National Archives (education resources) – primary sources and case studies

Year 8

Summary of curriculum:

Pupils’ learning in Year 7 is complemented by their learning in Year 8 where they start by extending their knowledge of the development of Britain. This begins with the reign of the Stuarts and the long-term impact of the Reformation in England. Pupils’ learning journey broadens into significant themes in world history, such as 16^th century West African Kingdoms, the Transatlantic Slave Trade and the British Empire in India. Our study of the Industrial Revolution deepens pupils’ understanding of their local context and the significance of Walsall to Britain’s industrial strength domestically and globally.

Main Topics:

Assessment throughout the year:

Students will take three summative assessments spread out through the year and six formative assessments, one for each term.

How parents/carers can support their child’s learning:

Parents and carers can support learning by encouraging regular revision at home, discussing what their child is learning in lessons, and helping them to organise their time effectively. Supporting homework completion, promoting good attendance, and encouraging reading around the subject will all help students to make strong progress. Talking about current events, historical topics, or geographical issues can also help students to develop their understanding beyond the classroom.

Character enrichment opportunities:

Students are encouraged to develop key skills such as resilience, independence, and critical thinking. Opportunities include participating in class discussions and debates, completing independent research projects, attending revision or enrichment sessions, and engaging with extracurricular activities such as history or geography clubs, trips, and competitions. These experiences help students build confidence and curiosity while strengthening their subject knowledge.

Useful websites:

·       BBC Bitesize – clear explanations, videos, and quizzes for revision

·       Seneca Learning – structured online revision courses

National Archives (education resources) – primary sources and case studies

Year 9

Summary of curriculum:

Year 9 deepens pupils’ historical thinking by strengthening their ability to evaluate sources and interpretations and use them to construct well-supported arguments. The year begins with an enquiry into the Civil Rights Movement in both the USA and the UK, allowing pupils to explore themes of equality, protest and social change that continue to shape modern society. Building on this, pupils then examine the global upheaval of World War Two, investigating the rise of dictators, the experience of total war and its long-term consequences. This leads into a focused study of the Holocaust, where pupils analyse its causes, impact and legacy through sensitive and rigorous historical enquiry. The year concludes with a shift back to the early modern world, as pupils explore Elizabethan England, enabling them to compare different periods and understand change and continuity across British history.

Main Topics:

Assessment throughout the year:

Students will take three summative assessments spread out through the year and six formative assessments, one for each term.

How parents/carers can support their child’s learning:

Parents and carers can support learning by encouraging regular revision at home, discussing what their child is learning in lessons, and helping them to organise their time effectively. Supporting homework completion, promoting good attendance, and encouraging reading around the subject will all help students to make strong progress. Talking about current events, historical topics, or geographical issues can also help students to develop their understanding beyond the classroom.

Character enrichment opportunities:

Students are encouraged to develop key skills such as resilience, independence, and critical thinking. Opportunities include participating in class discussions and debates, completing independent research projects, attending revision or enrichment sessions, and engaging with extracurricular activities such as history or geography clubs, trips, and competitions. These experiences help students build confidence and curiosity while strengthening their subject knowledge.

Useful websites:

·       BBC Bitesize – clear explanations, videos, and quizzes for revision

·       Seneca Learning – structured online revision courses

National Archives (education resources) – primary sources and case studies

Year 10

Summary of curriculum:

Pupils’ journey in History so far aimed to prepare them with crucial skills of investigating and analysing evidence, evaluating interpretations and forming supported judgements on significant enquiry questions. This builds the foundation of skills for their future and also their continued studies into GCSE and beyond. Our thematic curriculum centred around monarchy, conflict, society and local themes encourages pupils to thread their knowledge throughout their journey, making connections in depth and period studies in British and world history. This sequencing ensures they are prepared in the skills and knowledge for the depth and thematic studies they encounter at GCSE.

Main Topics:

Assessment throughout the year:

Students will take three summative assessments spread out through the year and six formative assessments, one for each term.

How parents/carers can support their child’s learning:

Parents and carers can support learning by encouraging regular revision at home, discussing what their child is learning in lessons, and helping them to organise their time effectively. Supporting homework completion, promoting good attendance, and encouraging reading around the subject will all help students to make strong progress. Talking about current events, historical topics, or geographical issues can also help students to develop their understanding beyond the classroom.

Character enrichment opportunities:

Students are encouraged to develop key skills such as resilience, independence, and critical thinking. Opportunities include participating in class discussions and debates, completing independent research projects, attending revision or enrichment sessions, and engaging with extracurricular activities such as history or geography clubs, trips, and competitions. These experiences help students build confidence and curiosity while strengthening their subject knowledge.

Useful websites:

·       BBC Bitesize – clear explanations, videos, and quizzes for revision

·       Seneca Learning – structured online revision courses

National Archives (education resources) – primary sources and case studies

Year 11

Summary of curriculum:

Pupils’ journey in History so far aimed to prepare them with crucial skills of investigating and analysing evidence, evaluating interpretations and forming supported judgements on significant enquiry questions. This builds the foundation of skills for their future and also their continued studies into GCSE and beyond. Our thematic curriculum centred around monarchy, conflict, society and local themes encourages pupils to thread their knowledge throughout their journey, making connections in depth and period studies in British and world history. This sequencing ensures they are prepared in the skills and knowledge for the depth and thematic studies they encounter at GCSE.

Main Topics:

Assessment throughout the year:

Students will take three summative assessments spread out through the year and six formative assessments, one for each term.

How parents/carers can support their child’s learning:

Parents and carers can support learning by encouraging regular revision at home, discussing what their child is learning in lessons, and helping them to organise their time effectively. Supporting homework completion, promoting good attendance, and encouraging reading around the subject will all help students to make strong progress. Talking about current events, historical topics, or geographical issues can also help students to develop their understanding beyond the classroom.

Character enrichment opportunities:

Students are encouraged to develop key skills such as resilience, independence, and critical thinking. Opportunities include participating in class discussions and debates, completing independent research projects, attending revision or enrichment sessions, and engaging with extracurricular activities such as history or geography clubs, trips, and competitions. These experiences help students build confidence and curiosity while strengthening their subject knowledge.

Useful websites:

·       BBC Bitesize – clear explanations, videos, and quizzes for revision

·       Seneca Learning – structured online revision courses

National Archives (education resources) – primary sources and case studies

Subject contact: Mr Potts

  enquiries@darlaston.graceacademy.org.uk