History teaching at Stover School comes under the umbrella of the Humanities Department which also encompasses Geography and Religious Studies.
History encourages students to develop a wide variety of skills, literacy being central. Students read and interpret material from a wide range of texts and they are encouraged to communicate their ideas by writing clearly and precisely. Requiring the students to present the findings of their research in imaginative and varied formats develops oral skills. Of course, debate and discussion are central to the historical process. Numeracy should form an important part of any History student’s course. They will encounter graphs and other statistical material and will be expected to deal with them accurately and with increasing sophistication. Opportunities are available in the subject for students to develop their IT skills. All students are encouraged to use word processing and other appropriate software to communicate some of their findings; to explore the World Wide Web in order to obtain, select and then deploy relevant information, and to be able to make use of a range of information, technological or otherwise, to enhance their historical studies.
Beyond the acquisition of skills, History has a role to play in the appreciation of different cultures. By means of role-play and drama, the student attempts to understand and to identify with the feelings and experiences of individuals from a different time and a different background to ours. Gradually the student learns the significance of change over time and of those things that have changed and those that have stayed the same.
History is a fascinating subject. In many cultures the study of it is very controversial indeed and in our own society it can still generate much emotion. It is, perhaps, the only subject that deals exclusively with human beings as its subject. As a result there are those who wish to use it as a vehicle to carry their own particular concerns. Historians seek to understand and explain the past. By doing so history students are encouraged to think logically and objectively and to use factual information as evidence to sustain their arguments. Our Department is happy to contribute to this process in the knowledge that we are contributing to a spirit of enlightened ‘ scepticism ‘.
KS3 History
Throughout Key Stage 3, students will have opportunities to develop their historical skills in the three key areas – enquiry, knowledge and understanding, and interpretation as well as enabling students to produce a structured written analysis.
Broad areas of study encompass:
YEAR 7:
- The Norman Conquest
- The Medieval Village and Town
- Faith in the Medieval World
- King John and the Magna Carta.
- The development of democracy in the medieval world.
- The Black Death and the Peasants’ Revolt
YEAR 8:
- Henry VIII and the Protestant Reformation
- Elizabeth I: How successfully did she tackle the problems of her reign?
- The English Civil Wars.
- The Restoration of the Monarchy including Plague and Fire
- The Glorious Revolution
- The Industrial Revolution including a focus on the Templer Tramway
YEAR 9:
- Black peoples of America: from slavery to equality?
- The First World War and its aftermath including the rise of Hitler
- The Home Front in the Second World War
- The Holocaust
GCSE History
Examination Board: AQA GCSE in History Specification code: 8145
The emphasis of the specifications is not just to learn history but to learn from history. The specification enables students to study different aspects of the past, so they can engage with key issues such as conflict and understand what drives change and how the past influences the present. AQA has worked with teachers and subject experts to include some exciting topics for today’s world that will resonate with students, helping them gain new insights into the world around them. Building on the skills and topics at Key Stage 3, our GCSE will equip students with essential skills and prepare them for further study. You can find out about all AQA History qualifications at aqa.org.uk/history.
The aim is to provide both a clearer understanding of the present from a detailed study of the past and a firm grounding in the skills of objective investigation, analysis and argument, both written and oral. A range of up-to-date texts is available, and the department is well stocked with DVDs, which are used when appropriate. Skills gained can be carried forward to A Level, or hold good as they are. In either event, History is an excellent subject for developing a trained, well-disciplined mind and for nurturing and sustaining an interest in the past.
Key features are:
- No controlled assessment/coursework
- All exams are linear, sat at the end of the course.
- New grading system of 1–9.
Compulsory elements are:
- A thematic study over time – requiring students to understand change and continuity over a long period of time.
- A period study of at least 50 years – where students are required to understand an unfolding narrative of developments and issues associated with the period.
- One British depth study to include a study of the historical environment – which looks at the relationship between a place and historical events or developments.
- One European/wider world depth study.
The syllabus is in three parts as follows:
Paper 1 Written Paper 1 hour 45 minutes – 50% of total marks
Section A: Period study
- America, 1920–1973: Opportunity and inequality
This period study focuses on the development of the USA during a turbulent half century of change. It was a period of opportunity and inequality – when some Americans lived the ‘American Dream’ whilst others grappled with the nightmare of discrimination and prejudice. Students will study the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of these two developments and the role ideas played in bringing about change. They will also look at the role of key individuals and groups and the impact the developments had on them.
Section B: Wider world depth studies
One of the following options will be studied:
- Conflict and tension, 1894–1918
This wider world depth study enables students to understand the complex and diverse interests of nations and states. It focuses on the causes, nature and conclusion of the First World War and seeks to show how and why conflict occurred, and why it proved difficult to bring the war to a conclusion. This study also considers the role of key individuals and groups and how they were affected by and influenced international relations.
- Conflict and tension, 1918–1939
This wider world depth study enables students to understand the complex and diverse interests of different individuals and states. It focuses on the causes of the Second World War and seeks to show how and why conflict occurred and why it proved difficult to resolve the issues which caused it. This study also considers the role of key individuals and groups as well as how they were affected by and influenced international relations.
Paper 2 Written Paper 1 hour 45 minutes – 50% of total marks
Section A: Thematic studies
- Britain: Power and the people
This thematic study will enable students to gain an understanding of the development of the relationship between the citizen and the state in Britain over a long period of time. It considers the causes, scale, nature and consequences of protest to that relationship. By charting the journey from feudalism and serfdom to democracy and equality, it reveals how, in different periods, the state responds to challenges to its authority and their consequences. It allows students to construct an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of the citizen.
Section B: British depth studies including the historic environment
- Norman England, 1066–c1100
This option allows students to study in depth a specific historical period – the arrival of the Normans and the establishment of their rule. The depth study will address the political, military, religious, economic, social, and cultural aspects of this period and arising controversies. Key areas of study are:
- The Normans – Conquest and control
- Life under the Normans
- The Norman Church and Monasticism
- The historic environment of Norman England including the examination of a specific site in depth.
A Level History
Examination Board: AQA GCSE in History Specification code: 7042
Students will study:
- Significant events, individuals and issues
- A range of historical perspectives
- The diversity of society
- The history of more than one country or state
- Continuity and change over a period of time
- An element of British history
The specification allows direct progression from the GCSE syllabus currently offered although GCSE is not a prerequisite for taking this course. A range of options are available for each unit (3 over two years). Options must focus upon a combination of British/English History and European/World History. Planned options for the A Level are:
British/English History – The Tudors: England, 1485–1603 – This option allows students to study in breadth issues of change, continuity, cause and consequence in this period.
European/World History – Revolution and Dictatorship: Russia, 1917–1953 – This option provides for the study in depth of the coming and practice of communism in Russia.
Non-Examined Assessment (NEA)
This is an independently researched enquiry addressing a question set in the context of approximately 100 years. Learners will complete a 3000–3500 word essay on a topic of their choice. This is an internally assessed unit.
ASSESSMENT
There will be one examination series available each year in June to all learners. Certification is subject to two years study.
