Our philosophy is predicated on the belief that an understanding of history is vital for any young person beginning their path into adulthood and that the more varied and interesting this journey can be made, the more successful our students will ultimately become.
The Key Stage 3 curriculum moves chronologically from the Middle Ages to the end of the Cold War and looks at a combination of both depth studies of individual periods but also analyses topics with greater breadth so that patterns of change and continuity can be assessed thematically across a larger span of history. Our blending of modern world and traditional topics ensures our students have a well-developed sense of understanding of the world they find themselves in and how our history relates to current affairs. History at Kingsley is far more than an integral part of the curriculum, it is in the very foundations of the school and the rich heritage of which we are so lucky to be a part. Opportunities to join school trips, to the World War One Battlefields in Belgium for example, help to support students’ learning.
We study Edexcel History which allows for a varied curriculum that covers a thematic study from Medicine in the UK from the medieval age to the 21st century. We cover depth and period studies that focus on Elizabethan England, Weimar and Nazi Germany, and The Cold War. This diversity in subject allows students to develop their understanding of British, modern, and global history, whilst simultaneously marking the changes and continuity over a period of 1000 years of history. We teach students the need to look at evidence critically, to challenge differing interpretations and apply their knowledge and understanding to become well-rounded historians. GCSE History is a popular option that achieves highly and many of our students continue onto A-Level.
Paper 1. Thematic Study and Historic Environment (Medicine through time, c1250-present.)
Paper 2. Period Study and British Depth Study (Superpower Relations and the Cold War, 1941-91 and Early Elizabethan England, 1558-88)
Paper 3. Modern Depth Study (Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918-39)
Provide a clear overview of the time periods and an understanding of chronology.
Develop and appreciation of social, political, economic, cultural, and military aspects of different historical periods.
Analyse historical evidence to draw conclusions about the past.
Variety of tasks to develop pupils of all learning styles.
Visits to World War One Battlefields in Ypres, Belgium, London, and Berlin.
We study Edexcel Route F ‘Searching for Rights and Freedoms in the 20th Century’ which focuses on the changing political, social, and economic position of America, 1917-96, and the gaining of Independence in India, 1917-48. In Year 13 we study option 35, ‘Britain: losing and gaining an empire, 1763-1914’.
Year 12
Paper 1: In Search of the American Dream, 1917-96: students will study the changing nature of American politics and the role of the presidency, the emergence of America as a global power, societal changes such as civil rights and equal rights, and a case study of the impact and legacy of the Reagan administration.
Paper 2: India, c1914-48 – the Road to Independence: Within this Unit, students will study the causes and the course of Indian Independence from the British Empire, examining the consequences for the country and its people. They will gain an in-depth understanding of the unique challenges faced by India, the British Raj and the government in London during this time, and how the Indian people gained their independence and suffered during the tumultuous events of partition.
Year 13
Paper 3: Britian: Losing and Gaining an Empire, 1763-1914: Students will chart Britain as an empirical power from its loss of the American Colonies to its eventual domination of over 400 million people globally by 1914. We analyse the changing nature of global trade and Britain’s use of the Royal Navy to colonise and control countries across the globe. We focus on America, Canada, Australia, India and Egypt, and students will gain a thorough understanding of geopolitics and the legacy of empire on the world today.
Coursework: An Individual Investigation: In this Unit, students are able to develop critical analytical and evaluative skills in their own independently researched assignment, which will be 4,000 words in length. The main focus of this is to interpret and understand the work of the historian. From this, they are required to form an opinion based on applicable reading on their historical debate, and analyse, explain and evaluate the interpretations of three historians of their choice.
