History

Ethos & Values

We aim:

• To enhance children's quality of learning through the effective delivery of the History curriculum, ensuring quality provision to all students.
• To raise attainment in History by creating a target-orientated culture, based on the enhancement of self-esteem and an ethos of mutual improvement.
• To have consistently high expectations, matched with the dedication of professional, dedicated and knowledgeable staff and match these with high quality resources and learning strategies.
• To make links with the wider curriculum, particularly assisting in the provision of improvement of English language skills and usage.
• To provide a range of educational experiences appropriate to the age, ability and needs of our students.
• To manage our well-ranged selection of resources to ensure maximum benefit.
• To adopt a philosophy of continuous improvement in all aspects of the delivery of the subject.
• To maintain and improve upon our high levels of success as a department.
• To develop and consolidate the role of History in the English Baccalaureate qualification.

The History department consistently aims to reinforce the ethos and values of Somercotes Academy through high expectations, mutual support, passion for the curriculum area and the constant drive to improve both as Historians and as individuals.

Knowledge & Skills

'There is no history of mankind, there is only an indefinite number of histories of all kinds of aspects of human life'. - Karl Popper

History is uniquely placed to offer knowledge and skills that can be applied to the wider world and can be linked to almost all areas of study and personal development. History allows us to:

• Develop and improve upon a knowledge and understanding of key events, individuals and ideas of the past, evaluating and linking them to the present day.
• Explore, investigate and evaluate historical sources, learning how to critically evaluate and analyse them.
• Develop the skills of self-reflection, team work, and organisation and further develop skills that utilise the usage of the English language.
• Develop the ability to understand the world in which we live, together with developing the skills which are essential in many subjects.
• Understand what motivates people and understand what they think and feel.
• Gather and read different kinds of information.
• Investigate information and can check it for bias or propaganda and comment on what the purpose and validity of it is.
• Read maps, graphs and other diagrams;
• To communicate effectively.

As a faculty, we are proud to offer our students the chance to develop and prosper in a way that benefits them for the rest of their lives.

Resources & Facilities

The History Department is staffed by dedicated, professional and outstanding teachers who are passionate History.

We offer dedicated, well equipped and comfortable classrooms, with interactive facilities and a range of quality resources, ranging from excellent detailed textbooks and artefacts to subject specific software.

Courses & Qualifications

Key Stage 3

Key Stage 3: Students follow a carefully structured curriculum allowing a development of Historical skills and knowledge across significant eras and themes. Students study History from the Romans through to the 20th Century. Areas covered include Medieval realms, Tudors and Stuarts, Slavery, Diversity, the British Empire and WWI and WWII. In year 7 and 8 all students have two lessons of History per week.

Key Stage 4

Students will be studying the new GCSE obtaining grades from 1-9. These students will sit the GCSE from the AQA Examination Group focussing on International developments in the inter-war years with a depth study on Germany. In addition, students will undertake a British Depth Study on Norman England and a thematic study of Migration and Empire from c.790 to the modern day. The course with be examined through two external examinations in the summer of Year 11. Students studying the AQA GCSE will also receive 3 lessons per week.

Learning Outside The Classroom

The Humanities department understands the contributions that outside learning can make to students therefore a Humanities Club has recently begun at Somercotes Academy. The Humanities Department also provides a range of revision and support classes when required for Key Stage 4 students in order to help students achieve success in their exams.

Where Does This Take Me In The Future?

• The study of History provides students with an understanding of a wide range of societies and eras throughout History in addition to a development of written and oral skills.
• All topics covered within History provide a good progression route to more advanced qualifications, specifically A Levels in History, Law, Government and Politics and Philosophy and Ethics.