Step back in time with the History department! Please explore our History pages, to find out more about what we offer as a department.
We aim:
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.
'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:
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.
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.
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.
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.