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History

Curriculum Intent

At ICC, the History Department aims to develop students’ sense of identity, their understanding of their place in the world, their knowledge and understanding of how and why British society has changed and the different experiences of a variety of group of people in the past. This will enable students to develop a sense of empathy, compassion, tolerance and a wider world view that will provide a foundation not just for their historical studies, but also for their wider lives as national and global citizens. The History department will ensure that students finish KS3 with a broad knowledge of local, national and worldwide events of historical significance.

The History curriculum will also develop key skills – not only the second order concepts of chronology, cause and consequence, similarity and difference, change and continuity, significance, and sources and interpretations – but also student’s ability to think critically about the world around them. We define ‘critical thinking’ as the ability to be able to analyse (explain why) and evaluate (provide judgement after weighing up) sources of evidence and knowledge in an information rich age where it is more important than ever to identify truth from lies and facts from fake news. And of course, literacy skills will be developed throughout the different curricula.

In order to keep a strong sense of chronology, we begin by teaching the curriculum in chronological order. This is important so students can understand how change over time develops. We then progress this in year 8 so it has a more thematic focus; this enables students to reflect back on the work they have done in year 7 and develop their understanding by further applying the key concepts. We aim to encourage students to examine History as an historian by challenging them to consider how a certain theme may have changed or stayed the same and what the causes and consequences of this might be. Crime and Punishment has been chosen as a synoptic study because of its themes of morality and law and order which are so crucial to an understanding of modern day society. Moreover, it further develops the skills used in KS3 and therefore makes the transition from Key Stage 3 to GCSE more seamless and coherent. The topic of Early Elizabethan England aims to show how England entered the modern age as an international power, while the Cold War provides the contextual background to an understanding of the world around us. Events in the USA, 1945-75 provide an invaluable insight into the treatment of individuals and actions that can make a difference in the world.

To promote challenge and engagement and a deeper understanding of historical events, people and places, the GCSE curriculum will be taught across three years to allow for wider teaching practices to take place such as the use of varying sources and the development of oracy and retrieval practice. This will also allow our students to develop skills as independent learners and attempts a variety of different revision skills and exam questions. 

Key Stage 3 Overviews

Overviews to follow shortly.

KS3 Resources

The History Department are delighted to launch the additional resource, ‘Meanwhile, elsewhere…’ for our KS3 students to develop their interest and love of History.

The History topics learnt in class are fascinating, challenging, complicated, intriguing, and sometimes shocking, yet they only offer a small glimpse of the past. This is where ‘Meanwhile, elsewhere…’ can help by linking to the topics we study in class at KS3.

Use the information below to access the work-sheet that ties into the topic we are studying, or collect one from the display rack outside the History Office and discover a whole new part of history that was happening around the same time.

Print them out, click on the website links, cast your net of curiosity further than you had ever imagined…and discover what was happening meanwhile, elsewhere…

Once completed hand the sheet in to your History teacher to gain extra R points and be entered into a prize draw.

Meanwhile, elsewhere...

History Challenge

Passionate Historians’ This is a suggested reading, listening and watching list to help students go above and beyond in history.

A Level Independent Learning Resources