History
In history, students will develop an understanding of a range of historical events, periods, and people that have shaped Britain and the world. Students will be able to make connections between different time periods and understand the importance of key historical events. Students will be able to see how historical changes and consequences have shaped history as well as the world in which we live today. They will learn through enquiry and be curious about historical narratives, approaching interpretations of history critically, and reaching reasoned judgements of their own based upon evidence.
Students will increase their knowledge of historical periods, people, trends and events so that they develop a rich knowledge of the past which builds cultural capital, takes them beyond their lived experience and allows them to engage meaningfully in the process of historical enquiry. Students will develop their disciplinary knowledge of how historians investigate the past through second order concepts and by engaging thoughtfully with sources of evidence and historical interpretations. Students build their confidence to communicate knowledge effectively, both written and orally, so that students can construct written answers that evaluate, judge and argue as well as to use the language of historians to convey an increasingly sophisticated understanding of the past.
The curriculum gives students the opportunity to study an overarching narrative of British history which is interwoven with diverse and global histories that speak to our students’ own identities. Knowledge is retained through a planned curriculum, chronologically sequenced and driven by historical enquiries. Students are given opportunities to build upon feedback by redrafting answers and addressing misconceptions. Students study historical events, people and places in-depth by looking at different sources, evidence, and interpretations that exist. This will give students the chance to challenge the way in which we view history and question accepted versions of the past.
By looking at a wide range of history, but also studying history in-depth, students will learn about the importance of local, national, and global history across a range of time periods. Locally, students will learn about the development and changes to London and Croydon during the First World War. Nationally, students will learn about the development of the Church, state and society when studying topics such as the Reformation, the Suffrage Movement, the Black British experience and the LGBTQ+ movement in Britain. Globally, students will learn about the Axumite Empire, Britain’s role in the Transatlantic slave trade, the British Empire, the experiences of Jewish people during the Second World War, decolonial movements in India and the Iranian Revolution.
