St Leonard's

KS3 History Curriculum

Intent: The History and Politics teachers at St Leonard’s aim to deliver excellent lessons, using a range of quality sources and texts and introducing high level of history discussion; a curriculum that is academic, challenging, and inclusive of all, which inspires students to continue study at GCSE, A Level and beyond. We look to contribute to the school aim of living life in all its fullness, offering extra-curricular opportunities for students to experience and engage with History and Politics outside of the classroom. 

Our curriculums will give students the opportunity to: 

• Study issues at a local, national and international level in Ancient, Medieval, Early Modern and Modern time periods 
• Understand Britain’s influence on the wider world 
• Study the history and influence of different peoples and places across time 
• Assess the impact of events on individual and communities 
• Be exposed to a high level of historical, political and conceptual vocabulary 
• Learn to interpret a broad range of sources including visual sources and propaganda 
• Be exposed to different peoples’ perspectives on issues and events 
• Develop an understanding of how to apply and write about historical concepts such as causation; continuity and change; significance; consequence; diversity 
• Challenge received wisdom about individuals and issues 
• Develop confidence in orating and debating issues and evaluate interpretations 

In order to achieve these aims, the teaching staff within the department will: 

• Embed key disciplinary concepts of change/continuity, cause/consequence, similarity/difference, significance and how the past has been interpreted through a combination of depth and overview studies.  
• Focus on key substantive concepts like empire, Church, and revolution to help students build their understanding of the past.  
• Aim to establish and revisit these key disciplinary and substantive concepts in different contexts and increasing complexity to allow students to develop and build their understanding of them.  
• Teach students to think critically, distinguish between fact and opinion, and form judgements based on evidence.  
• Encourage personal development through introducing and developing themes of citizenship, diversity and tolerance, emphasising moral and social events such as the Holocaust and the Civil Rights Movement.  
• Deliver the school’s values and encourage students to reflect on where they are prominent in lessons.  
• Enable students to see themselves as citizens of the world, understanding not just how others have made a difference, but how they themselves can make a difference in their society and in the world. 

KS4 GCSE History

Exam board: Pearson
Course code: 1HI0
Examinations: Three written papers.
Paper 1: Medicine Through Time – 31% of the grade

Paper 2: American West and Norman England – 38% of the grade

Paper 3: Weimar and Nazi Germany – 31% of the grade

Progression routes: GCSE History is an excellent gateway subject, which allows students to access a wide range of A-Levels. Many students go on to study History and Politics at A-Level and then at undergraduate level. While employers see the value of how History students are able to organise and communicate their ideas effectively and reach substantiated judgements based on the available evidence.

KS5 courses