History
| Staff | Mrs J Aitken | -
Head of Department |
| Miss L Widdows | ||
| Mr I Woodason |
History Department Statement
The department does not believe that history is a dry, dusty subject. It is very vital and alive. The current fascination with historical films and re-enactments is evidence of how fascinating the subject is to the general public. We think students need to understand the past, to help make sense of the present. At Kingsbridge we use a variety of learning styles and activities to make our students active learners. Sometimes students’ `hot seat’ or write role-plays. We encourage the use of visual, electronic and written sources. Students, we hope, see themselves as detectives looking at evidence, spotting what is missing, biased and inaccurate. Like Khrushchev, we hope students remember his saying…”Historians are dangerous people because they think for themselves.” |
 Students investigating the Slave Trade through dramatic reconstruction |
Curriculum overview
| KS3: Years 7, 8 & 9 Year 7 Mark the Monarch A study of some of the monarchs from 1066 to the twentieth century. Students decide what makes a good ruler. |
Key assignments include: |
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| Changing Minds Students see why medieval people thought they were doomed. They investigate the conditions in Georgian prisons and see how conscientious objectors were treated. |
Key assignments include: Group presentations and peer teaching |
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| Year 8 Moving Stories Students investigate the results of immigration to and emigration from the British Isles. |
Key assignments include: What was the Middle Passage like? What were the experiences of Black Soldiers during the American Civil War? Role-play and group presentation about the issues explored in this unit. |
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| Revolting People Students investigate a number of popular protests. |
Key assignments include: Why was John forced to sign the Magna Carta? Why did the peasants revolt? |
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| Year 9 Human Rights and Human Wrongs This study concentrates on the 20th Century. It involves a number of depth studies. |
Key assignments include: What was Emily doing at the Derby? Why did Stalin start the Purges? What was life really like in the trenches? |
Qualifications offered
| KS4: Year 10 & 11 GCSE Current Year 11 - Syllabus A (SHP) OCR History of Medicine and the Rise of the Nazis (2009-10) The exam counts for 75% of the overall grade. Two pieces of coursework make up the extra 25%. |
 The Doctors Show by School History Scene |
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| In Year 10 the students have completed 2 pieces of coursework. The first was a site investigation of Buckland Abbey. The second, an investigation of the present situation in the Middle East. From October 2008 to February 2009, the students completed a depth study on Nazi Germany. | ||
| Year 11 (September 2009 – 10) The students will undertake a study through time - The History of Medicine. This study involves students looking at how people explained and treated their ailments. Students look at problems with surgery, turning points and key individuals. |
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| Year 10 – 11 Syllabus B (SHP) Edexcel (2009-11) The course is made up of four modules. Three are examined. One module, on Vietnam, is a controlled assessment. |
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| In Year 10 students complete two modules: Life in Nazi Germany. This is examined in January 2010. Representations of History - The Vietnam War. This is assessed during the Spring Term of 2010. |
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| In Year 11 students complete the remaining two modules, both are to be examined in June 2011: Medicine and Treatment The Transformation of Surgery (c.1845-1918) |
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KS5: Years 12 & 13 A Level |
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| Year 12 AS Course AQA Modules 1. Britain 1815 – 1865 2. Transformation of Russia 1929 - 1941 |
Year 13 A2 Course AQA Modules 3. Triumph and Collapse: Russia and USSR 1941 – 1991 4. Britain and Ireland – an historical enquiry |
Extra Curricular Activities |
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Students are encouraged to take part in a variety of enrichment activities. Recently students visited the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum to make a professional recording. Students investigated the Slave Trade and its links to Plymouth through a dramatic reconstruction. Year 9 students can see a `Doomed Youth’ play about young people in the First World War. All Year 11 students attend the `Doctors Show and Revision Conference’. |
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A Victorian painting based on the Civil War |
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Students re-enacting the painting and inquisition |
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