Aims:
In line with the National Curriculum, the History Department aims to enable all students to become successful learners who enjoy learning, make progress and achieve their potential.  We encourage students to become confident individuals and responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society.

In Year 7 pupils begin to find out about the history of their community, Britain, Europe and the world. As students develop their understanding of the medieval era, they will focus on three key themes which underpin our studies throughout Key Stage 3.

Content:
‘Britain and the world 1066 – 1603’
Although this module is taught chronologically, each lesson falls under one of the following three themes:
- Ruling
- Living and working
- Moving and travelling

• How and why do we study History?
• The Norman Conquest
• What did medieval people fear (including the Black Death)?
• What was the impact of Arab culture in the middle ages?
• Who had the most power: Crown or Church (including Thomas Becket)?
• King John and the Magna Carta
• How powerful was Henry VIII?
• Elizabeth I and her use of imagery
• Travel and exploration: Marco Polo and Francis Drake

Assessment:
Homework is issued once a week and should take approximately thirty minutes.  Furthermore, students complete three assessments, one in each term.  For each of these they are assigned a National Curriculum Level.  The first two assessments are conducted during lesson time, whereas the third assessment is the school examination in May.

Extra Curricular:
All students take part in a visit to Kenilworth Castle, where they investigate for themselves the castle ruins and the surviving evidence.  This visit also forms the basis of a piece of imaginative and creative project work on our return.

Useful Websites:
www.schoolhistory.co.uk
www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone
www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/history
www.schoolhistory.org.uk