The History curriculum at Barnwell School develops our students’ ability to understand and have knowledge of the History of Britain and the wider world. The curriculum is sequenced in a chronological narrative, which focuses on change and continuity. Along with the exposition to knowledge, the curriculum offers students the opportunity to grasp and engage in historical enquiry. Students will understand the process of change; to see how we have arrived ‘here’ and to help them to make sense of the present. History allows us to understand how the world we live in today was shaped by events in the past.
At KS3 our History curriculum is aimed to spark students' interest and enthusiasm for History and equip them with the skills and knowledge they need to write, think and debate like a historian. We want to inspire students’ curiosity to ask questions and know more about Britain’s past, and that of the wider world, and for our students to challenge perceptions of the world that they encounter. Our KS3 curriculum is designed with a chronological narrative in mind, which allows students to examine change and continuity over time.
The aim for our curriculum at GCSE is for our students to construct arguments and support them to become analytical citizens who can question human motivation and society with skill and confidence. Through our GCSE curriculum we want our students to learn how to construct arguments and balance evidence alongside knowledge of historical chronology. Students are assessed through three GCSE exam papers at the end of Year 11.
Students follow the Edexcel syllabus:
They are studying:
• Medicine in Britain, c1250–present and The British sector of the Western Front, 1914–18: injuries, treatment and the trenches.
• Henry VIII and his Ministers
• The American West 1835-1895
• Weimar and Nazi Germany 1918-1939
The aim of the A Level curriculum at Barnwell is to engage and develop critical thinking Historians. It allows students to gain a deeper understanding of the past through political, social, economic and cultural perspectives. Students will be following the AQA syllabus, and we have elected to choose the following components:
Component 1: Breadth study – The Tudors: England, 1485–1603.
Component 2: Depth study – Revolution and dictatorship: Russia, 1917–1953.
Students also complete a Historical Investigation based on the Civil Rights in America.
We believe that these components of study allow our students to expand their wider knowledge of the construction of the world we live in today, and provide the opportunity to develop their critical thinking skills by analysing sources and interpretations. The design of the Historical Investigation also provides our students with excellent preparation skills for life beyond Barnwell, as it encourages curiosity, exploration, and consolidation of ideas.
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KS3 Subject: |
Y7 Content |
Y7 Key Assessment |
Y8 Content |
Y8 Key Assessment |
Y9 Content |
Y9 Key Assessment |
Autumn 1 |
Romans |
How rotten were the Romans? |
The Tudors Henry VIII, Mary I and Edward VI |
Did Henry change the church for the right reasons? |
Jack the Ripper |
Why did Jack the Ripper get away with murder? |
Autumn 2 |
Dark Ages |
How dark were the Dark Ages? |
Spanish Armada |
Why did the Spanish Armada fail? |
Titanic |
Who is to blame for the sinking of the Titanic? |
Spring 1 |
1066 |
Why did William win the Battle of Hastings? |
The English Civil War |
Why did the English kill their king? |
World War I |
“Conditions in the trenches of World War One were like a living hell”. How far do you agree with this statement? |
Spring 2 |
Norman Control of England |
Write a narrative account analysing Norman control. |
16th Century London |
Write a narrative account analysing the Great Fire of London. |
Votes for Women |
Why did women get the vote in 1918? |
Summer 1 |
Medieval Knights and King John |
“The main role of the knight was to partake in crusading.” How far do you agree with this statement? |
African Civilisations |
Explain why the history of African civilisations can be described as "great". |
Nazi Germany |
GCSE past paper including interpretation and source analysis. |
Summer 2 |
Black Death |
What were the consequences of the Black Death? |
Black Peoples of America |
How and why was slavery abolished? |
Holocaust |
Why did the Holocaust happen? |
KS4 Course: |
Y10 Content |
Y10 Key Assessment |
Y11 Content |
Y11 Key Assessment |
Autumn 1 |
Medieval & Renaissance Medicine |
Was the Black Death in England a complete disaster?
GCSE 12 mark question |
Nazi control and dictatorship and life in Nazi Germany |
GCSE source utility question.
GCSE 16 mark question |
Autumn 2 |
Henry VIII and his ministers: The role of Cardinal Wolesy and Thomas Cromwell |
GCSE 4 mark question
GCSE 16 mark question |
Henry VIII, the Reformation and its impact |
GCSE 4 mark question
GCSE 16 mark question |
Spring 1 |
American West: The early settlement West |
GCSE 8 mark question
GCSE 16 mark question
|
Medicine in the 20th Century |
GCSE 12 mark question
GCSE 12 mark question |
Spring 2 |
Industrial Medicine and Medicine on the Western Front |
GCSE 4 mark question
GCSE 8 mark source based GCSE question |
American West conflicts and conquest, c1876–c1895 |
GCSE 8 mark question
GCSE 8 mark question |
Summer 1 |
Germany The Weimar Republic and the rise the Hitler and the Nazi Party |
GCSE 12 mark question
GCSE source interpretation question |
Revision |
Revision |
Summer 2 |
American West: The development of the Plains |
GCSE 16 mark question
GCSE 8 mark question |
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Further details here, or from S.Ahmed@barnwell.herts.sch.uk
KS5 Course: |
Y12 Content |
Y12 Key Assessment |
Y13 Content |
Y13 Key Assessment |
Autumn 1 |
Tudors: Henry VII
Russia: Revolution 1917 |
Tudors: Section A Essay
Russia: Section B Essay |
Tudors: Mary I
Russia: Five Year Plans |
Tudors: Section A Essay
Russia: Section B Essay |
Autumn 2 |
Tudors: Henry VII
Russia: Bolshevik Consolidation |
Tudors: Section B Essay Russia: Section A Essay |
Tudors: Edward VI
Russia: Collectivisation |
Mocks Tudors: Section A&B Essay
Russia: Section A&B Essay |
Spring 1 |
Tudors: Henry VIII
Russia: Russia under Lenin |
Tudors: Section A Essay Russia: Section B Essay |
Tudors: Elizabeth I
Russia: WWII |
Tudors: Section B Essay
Russia: Section A Essay |
Spring 2 |
Tudors: Henry VIII
Russia: Power Struggle |
Tudors: Section B Essay Russia: Section A Essay |
Tudors: Elizabeth I
Russia: Stalin End |
Mocks Tudors: Section A&B Essay
Russia: Section A&B Essay |
Summer 1 |
Tudors: Henry VIII
Russia: Russia under Stalin |
Mocks Tudors: Section A&B Essay Russia: Section A&B Essay |
Revision |
Revision |
Summer 2 |
NEA: Civil Rights America |
NEA: Civil Rights America |
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Further details here or from S.Ahmed@barnwell.herts.sch.uk