History

"We learn from history that we learn nothing from history."
George Bernard Shaw

Key Stage 3

Year 7

In History in Year 7 you will learn all about Roman Britain, life in Medieval England from 1066 to 1500 and the Tudor royal family.

You will begin by studying the Roman invasion of Britain and the wider consequences of that, before looking at the legacy of the Romans in our World today. In addition, you will learn about how ordinary people like you lived in medieval times.  We will end Year 7 History by studying the Tudors, in particular Henry VIII, his many wives and his break with the Roman Catholic Church. 

You will learn a lot about your own local history and look at entries in the Domesday Book which relate to Wirral or castles in North Wales. You will also become aware of what was happening in other parts of the world at that time, such as the Crusades.

Your parents can help by encouraging you to visit local museums, many of which are free of charge. If you have internet access at home, a very good website with lots of accurate historical information is:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zk26n39

Year 8

History in Year 8 begins with a look at the transition from the Tudors to the Stuarts, before moving on to complete an in-depth study of the English Civil War.  Following this, you will explore how Britain changed during the Industrial Revolution; in particular the impact of factories on British society.  We will also be studying Crime and Punishment during the 1800s using the case study of Jack the Ripper.

We will then continue our study of modern history by looking at the causes and consequences of both the First and Second World War, with this topic also covering the social impact of conflict on Britain.  Through the case study of the Holocaust, we will also explore why we remember and commemorate difficult times in history.

Year 9

The History curriculum in Year 9 is divided into two main sections, as you will start the year by studying America in the Twentieth Century before moving on to start the GCSE History course from January onwards.

During your lessons on America in the Twentieth Century, we will evaluate how successful the 1920s and 1930s were for different parts of American society before focusing on the origins and methods of the Civil Rights Movement.  By assessing the significance of key events and individuals such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the work of Martin Luther King Jnr., you will create judgements about the successes and the limitations of the Civil Rights Movement from the 1920s right up to the present-day.

The Vietnam War will then be your final topic before starting the GCSE History Course, with the focus here being an overall assessment of the morality of the weapons and tactics used by both sides.  You will also further demonstrate your source analysis skills to evaluate why America lost the Vietnam War; with this being a crucial skill to develop further as you move towards GCSE level.