History - KS4 - GCSE

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Curriculum Year 10 / Year 11

Assessment

Supporting your child

Extended learning

Exam Board and Course Code

Pupils will follow the AQA History GCSE course https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/history/gcse/history-8145

Curriculum

10	What students will learn	How it builds on learning
	The Norman conquest and its impact on Britain.	This study builds upon students’ learning in KS3 on the Roman Empire (Y7 EQ1), the Norman Invasion of 1066 (Y7 EQ5) and the impact of later imperial expansion. It also develops students understanding of change which has been a conceptual focus throughout KS3.
	Power and the People– a story of power and protest from Medieval to Twentieth Century.	This thematic study directly builds upon a number of KS3 enquiries. Many of the key historical moments and movements (the Reformation, English Civil War, American Revolution, Chartism, Women’s Suffrage) have been studied in KS3 which allows students to draw comparisons and make thematic judgements over a longer period.
11	What students will learn	How it builds on learning
	The Cold War in Asia (including the Vietnam War) from 1950 to 1975.	This wider world depth study directly builds upon the work that students have done in Y9. Most notably the impact of the First and Second World Wars (Y9 EQ2 and EQ3 and EQ5) and the nature of the Cold War (EQ8).
	The making of the USA from 1840 to 1895.	This period of study directly builds upon the work students have done in Y8 looking at the emergence of the United States (EQ6) and the impact of the Civil War on black Americans (EQ8).

Assessment

Students will be assessed through two examinations, weighted at 50% each and requiring students to answer questions from their own knowledge and in response to source material. Each exam will be 2 hours in length and will take place during the summer exam period in Year 11.

Supporting your child

What you can do at home:

We encourage pupils to discuss ideas that they have studied in lesson time at home. We would also encourage you to ask your child about what they have studied in History as this will enrich the discursive element of the subject. Additional reading lists are also made available to pupils at the beginning of a scheme of work that include novels, online texts and suitable films to watch to acquire more knowledge of specific topics studied. All students are encouraged to borrow books from both the school library and our own History class libraries. Additionally, all pupils should try to watch or access international, national and local news in some form at least once a week to help them develop an understanding of the historical issues that influence the way we live our lives today.

Extended learning

Homework policy:

Homework will be set regularly. This will be a combination of flipped learning to prepare pupils for work in lessons and consolidation of previously learned material. Pupils will need to retain a wide range of key information over the course due to the particular knowledge demand in History, and it is strongly recommended that pupils review what they have studied in History briefly at the end of each week. All pupils are encouraged to borrow books from both the school library and our own History class libraries.

Clubs/ Enrichment opportunities:

There are a variety of enrichment opportunities available for students with an interest in History. These include a lunch time reading club, public lectures, and a new afterschool archaeology club. 

Extended study suggestions and reading lists:

Additional reading lists are also made available to pupils at the beginning of a scheme of work that include novels, online texts and suitable films to watch to acquire more knowledge of specific topics studied. All students are encouraged to borrow books from both the school library and our own History class libraries. Additionally, all pupils should try to watch or access international, national and local news in some form at least once a week to help them develop an understanding of the historical issues that influence the way we live our lives today. We also suggest watching one of our pre-recorded History lectures: https://www.cambournevc.org/news-and-events/historic-all

Possible trips and visits:

Every year the History department look for opportunities for trips and visits for students studying History GCSE. In the past this has included a trip to the National Archives in London and a one-day visit to the World War One battlefields in France. Keep your eyes peeled for opportunities!

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