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History
The History Department at The Whitby intends to inspire the curiosity of its students and to ensure that they know and understand the history of the UK and its place in the world. Students will learn a broadly chronological narrative of England and Great Britain and the way in which events and people have shaped that History and the present-day world. Students will learn this history through a wide range of historical concepts such as change and continuity, similarity and difference, cause and consequence and significance so that they are able to form and articulate opinions about the past and the people who write about history. Crucially, students will learn the role and value of evidence and the importance of making supported judgements in their studies. By the end of their studies, students will be able to detect the motivation, bias, value, validity and aims of those writing about events as they happened and the interpretation of those events at a later date. Students will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to be effective critical thinkers, who understand their responsibilities to society.
- To understand the key concepts of power, empire, religion, democracy, citizenship, diversity and empathy.
- Students will develop a deep sense of Chronology
- They will know and explore significant aspects of the history of Britain and the wider world.
- Students will develop an understanding of the past, question evidence critically, to evaluate interpretations.
- Students will deepen their understanding about the complexities of the past.
- Students will develop knowledge of key changes and their impact on society.
- Students will understand and be able to write about key concepts, such as change and continuity, cause and effect, and significance.
- Students will develop the disciplinary knowledge of an historian by evaluating sources and interpretations.
Key Stage 3
We begin our learning journey by teaching the fundamental skills required to succeed in History. These include an understanding of chronology, time, fact, opinion and types of evidence. We then focus upon key turning points and events in British History; The Battle of Hastings, The Reformation, Industrial Revolution and World War. We show how these events changed the world but also how they affected the lives of ordinary people.
We demonstrate how these events affected Britain’s position in the world and how world events were affecting Britain. In Year 7 this involves a focus upon religion and Christianity and the momentous decision of Henry VIII to break with Rome. In Year 8 students look at slavery, its impact upon the Industrial Revolution as well as a local study which examines Liverpool’s role in the slave trade. In Year 9 we look at the global impact of both World Wars and the events and implications of the Holocaust.
If students end their history journey at Key Stage 3, they will have developed critical thinking and disciplinary knowledge to be responsible citizens, who have a broad and balanced understanding of the development of Britain over the last 1000 years.
Key Stage 4
In years 10 and 11 students will fulfil the requirements of the GCSE curriculum and study over 1000 years of History, with a focus upon British History. These are: Crime and Punishment in Britain c500 – present day / Elizabethan England / Germany 1919-1990 and The USA 1910-1929. In all of these courses key disciplinary knowledge is focused upon as students are asked to make supported judgements about the past and complicated choices regarding significance, causation, change and continuity.
Students who choose to end their study of History at KS4 will have developed a number of transferable skills to support their next steps in further education or employment. These include critical thinking, research, analytical ability and communication.
They will have a deeper understanding and knowledge of British and World History.
Key Stage 5
As students move into Years 12 and 13, they maintain a focus upon British History with a focus upon British political and social history between 1951 and 2007. They also study the development of the USA as a world superpower between 1865 and 1975. In both courses there is an additional focus upon social history, allowing students to appreciate how political decisions affect the lives of ordinary people and different groups within society. Finally, in Year 13, students embark upon a piece of independent coursework investigating the causes of The French Revolution. This enables students to develop their understanding about History- not just the events but how the past is interpreted, and how those interpretations change over time.
Students who choose to end their study of History at KS5 will have developed a number of transferable skills to support their next steps in higher education, higher level training or employment. These include critical thinking, research, analytical ability and communication.
Students will have a deep understanding and knowledge of the impact of political decisions in shaping society and the experience of individuals.
Under review…
Under review…