Team Leader History – Mr Justin Barnett

Teachers of History:  Mrs Ann Steel, Mr Colin Lankester, Mrs Karen Goding, Dr Gavin Walker  

KEY STAGE 3

History at Key Stage 3 looks at developing a range of key concepts, such as ‘chronological understanding’, ‘diversity’, ‘cause and consequence, and ‘significance’.  There is also an emphasis on developing skills such as ‘enquiry’, ‘using evidence’, and ‘communicating about the past’.  These skills are developed through the study of a number of phases and aspects of history.  Key Stage 3 History looks at Britain and the wider world, and the relationship between the two.  Within Year 7 the focus is on medieval Britain.  In Year 8 the emphasis is on Britain between 1485 and 1750, and there is also an investigation of Native Americans.  In Year 9 students investigate British history between the years 1750 and 1900 (with an investigation within this of the topic of slavery), and also study the Twentieth Century World.  Assessment is via regular checking of students’ books, as well as a number of more formally set tasks through the year.  These develop a variety of skills, and investigate the topic currently being studied.  For example, Year 9 assessments focus on the Industrial Revolution, slave transport and World War One.  Visits throughout KS3 include the Weald and Downland Museum with Year 7, and Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with Year 8, both visits complementing the work done in class.

KEY STAGE 4

GCSE History focuses on Modern World History.  There are 3 units, assessed via two exam papers and Controlled Assessment.  Throughout the course, students develop their ability to recall, select and communicate their knowledge and understanding, develop the ability to explain and analyse events, and develop their skills of source analysis.  One of the exams (Paper 1) is worth 45% of the total GCSE and focuses on international relations (with a focus on the years 1919-39), and Russia between the years 1905 and 1941.  Paper 2 is worth 30% of the total GCSE and focuses on British history, with a focus on social history between the years 1890 and 1918.  Controlled Assessment is worth 25% of the total GCSE.  The question changes each year, but is always focused on Germany between 1918 and 1945.  All 3 units require the ability to use sources and own knowledge, but with a different focus each time.  For example, in Paper 2, sourcework is more significant than Paper 1.  Visits, to support learning, have included Berlin and the World War One battlefields.

Examining Body Specification