History

The History Department aims to stimulate an interest in the human past and to maximise the potential of each individual student. The Department is well resourced and full use is made of printed and visual material as well as the Internet.

Staff employ a wide range of teaching methods aimed to increase students’ knowledge of history and to improve their thinking skills.

Key Stage 3

The following topics are studied:

Year 7

The Roman Empire:

• Founding of Rome;
• Expansion of Rome;
• Roman Army;
• Invasion of Britain;
• Boudicca's Revolt;
• Hadrain's Wall;
• Roman Government;
• Roman Life;
• Slavery;
• Decline of the Roman Empire;
• Lagacy of Rome;

The Medieval Realm, 1066 - 1500:

• The Battle of Hastings;
• The Medieval Castle;
• The Medieval Village;
• The Medieval Town;
• The Medieval Church;
• The Murder of Becket, 1170;
• The Black Death, 1348;
• The Peasant's Revolt, 1381;
• Kings and Queens, 1066 - 1485;

Year 8

Britain 1750 - 1900: The Industrial Revolution:

• Causes of the Industrial Revolution;
• Population Change;
• Changes in the Textile Industry;
• Changes in the Sources of Power;
• Coal Industry;
• Iron Industry;

The Making of the UK, 1500-1750:

• Henry VII;
• Henry VIII;
• The Break with Rome;
• Edward and Mary;
• The Spanish Armada;
• The Gunpowder Plot;
• Civil War;
• Oliver Cromwell;
• Plague and Fire.

Year 9

Britain 1750 -1900:

• Conditions in the towns;
• The Power Law.

Killingworth in the 19th Century:

• Census Returns;
• Working Conditions;
• Living Conditions;
• Parish Registers;
• Schools.

The Twentieth Century World

The First World War:

• Recruitment and Conscription;
• Trench System;
• Battle of the Somme;

The Second World War:

• Dunkirk;
• The Battle of Britain;
• Home Front;
• D-Day;
• THe Holocaust;
• The Atom Bomb.

The Cold War:

• Division of Europe after 1945
• Berlin blockade / Berlin Wall

Superpower Rivalry:

• Korean War;
• Cuban Missile Crisis:

Key Stage 4

G C S E HIST0RY

SYLLABUS B (THE MODERN WORLD)

Your G.C.S.E. History examination is divided into 3 parts

PAPER 1 (37.5%)

In this paper you will be expected to have a detailed knowledge of International and British History from 1900 -1949. The topics you will be studying include:-

• The causes of the First World War;
• Britain in the First World War;
• The Treaty of Versailles;
• The League of Nations;
• The causes of the Second World War;
•  The Origins of the Cold War;

Your examination will last for 1 3/4 hours and accounts for 37.5% of your final mark.

PAPER 2 (37.5%)

In this paper you will be expected to make a detailed study of the national history of 2 countries in the 1920 and 1930's

• America 1919 - 1941;
• Germany 1919 -1941;

Your examination paper will last for 1 % hours and accounts for 37.5% of your final mark.

COURSEWORK (25%)

In year 11, you will complete 2 coursework assignments:

Britain in the Second World War;

Vietnam since 1939.

You will be expected to write between 2500 and 3000 words in total.
Each assignment is worth 12.5 % of your total marks ie a total of 25% of your final mark. .

Key Stage 5

What Happens After I Have Passed My AS History ?

• Most students continue to study History at A2 level, and go onto University.
• Alternatively you can collect your certificate and end your Study of the subject.

A2 History

Like AS, this is also a modular course. As you would expect, the standard is higher
than AS, but don't worry you will be able to cope. Last year every student passed the A2 exam.

At A2 level you will study 3 modules. You will sit a one and half hour exam in each one.

Module 4: Kings, Queen and Power in 16th Century Spain and
                 The empire of Suleiman the Magnificent

Module 5: The Reigns of the 'Terrible Tudors'.

Module 6: The Problem of Poverty in Tudor England

Department Staff

Mr K Charlton - Curriculum Leader History

Mr E Houghton - Teacher of History / Achievement Support Coordinator Year 7

Miss C Barclay - Teacher of History