Rationale
Through an exciting and ambitious mixture of broad and in-depth studies, our history students will develop a chronological understanding of major historical events within Britain and the wider world. By studying a diverse range of history, students will build an appreciation of how different places and people experience the past. This awareness of diversity in the past will be combined with the study of controversial and challenging debates in history to help develop students into ethical, informed citizens. Students will become successful and resilient historians who have the skills to critically analyse primary sources, evaluate historical interpretations, and justify their own conclusions about matters central to history such as cause, consequence, change, continuity, and significance.
Overview
KS3
The History KS3 curriculum is undergoing some redevelopment during 2025-26. This is an interim overview and will be updated later this year.
KS4
A Level
Homework
KS3 Homework
Pupils in Key Stage 3 follow a rotation system which means they will have a history homework set every three weeks.
Homework tasks across each year will aim to achieve a variety of objectives that may include either consolidating knowledge that has been studied in lessons, expanding on areas of study in lessons to broaden pupils’ contextual understanding of a period of time, or they may be used to facilitate revision during assessment periods. The task set will consist of a variety of knowledge recall activities to help with consolidation and revision, as well as investigative homework tasks that are designed to stretch the scope of a topic being studied or other aspects of the world of history from the current time period being studied. In addition, class teachers may, at times, set individual tasks outside of the rota for issues such as unfinished classwork.
KS4
Year 10
All year 10 pupils will be given a weekly quiz designed to help them recall their knowledge of recently studied topics. The aim of knowledge recall is to help embed the historical knowledge required to succeed at GCSE. The quizzes are set without a time limit for questions, which allows pupils to use their books and other resources to help them if they are unsure of an answer. These quizzes are the minimum that will be set each week. In addition, individual teachers will set other tasks where appropriate. This could include activities such as completion of classwork where there are gaps, exam skills practice, creation of revision materials etc…
Year 11
All pupils will be set weekly quizzes that revisit learning from across years 10 and 11. This knowledge recall will be a vital part of the revision process for Y11 pupils. Individual teachers will also set additional tasks where appropriate to support the completion of key knowledge tasks and the development of exam skills. Individual teachers will also make resources available for revision in Showbie, and we strongly advise that pupils start preparing for their exams in September. Creating a revision timetable can also be a useful tool to organise and keep track of each subject. Should any pupil require help with this, their history teacher will provide support.
KS5
Year 12
Homework will be set each week for both topics studied in Year 12. Individual class teachers will set them and may include activities such as, but not limited to, research into a historical event or individual in preparation for use in an upcoming lesson, reading the works of academic historians related to their studies, preparation of group presentations, and production of written exam responses. In addition, pupils should use independent study time to consolidate/expand their knowledge of the historical periods studied. A wealth of resources to support them is available via Google Drive.
Year 13
As in year 12, pupils will be set 2 homework pieces for each topic studied and should use independent study to widen their contextual understanding. Independent study and additional homework will also be required to complete the reading, resourcing, and writing required for pupils to successfully engage with the NEA coursework element of this year of study. We advise that pupils begin to revise and prepare for the summer exams as early as possible in September. It would be advisable to create a revision timetable to organise the coverage of all subjects studied.