History

 
 

At Highfields the History curriculum intends to create passionate, informed, and inquisitive historians who ask questions about both the past and the present through delivery of a diverse and challenging curriculum.

The ethos of our curriculum is to contextualise the study of history through the experiences and backgrounds of our students; Curriculum plans have been carefully developed in consideration to the context of Highfields and its learners.  Through the study of history students are encouraged to consider how the past has shaped the world they live in today, by identifying positive change and challenging limited progression of the following core principles:

  • Embracing diversity

  • Challenging discrimination

  • Promoting Scholarship

  • Recognising Wolverhampton’s unique History - Wolverhampton and its place within a local, national, and global context.

At Key Stage 3 the study of History in Years 7-9 follows a chronological path.  This has been deliberately designed to encourage students to consider patters of change and continuity over time.  Curriculum plans focus on at least one, but often more of the four key principles identified above and are structured in the form of an enquiry question to act as a focal point for learning.  This enquiry question may be addressed partially or fully through the identified assessment, providing the basis for student reflection, and understanding of the overriding principles of the unit.   Opportunities for students to discuss and reflect upon their learning independently, with their peers and beyond the classroom are encouraged through the planning and resourcing of each unit.

The study of History at Highfields School aims to build and develop a rich knowledge and conceptual understanding of the following six key concepts:

  • Power

  • Migration

  • Empire

  • Slavery

  • War

  • Genocide

Throughout the study of History students will be able to identify, describe, explain, and analyse a range of significant events and turning points which support their depth and breadth of knowledge across the six key concepts.  These first order concepts aim to provide students with a rich knowledge of the past as well as supporting core British values and their Spiritual Moral Social and Cultural needs. Knowledge is developed through a range of different teaching and learning activities and supported by the school wide focus of the 4Rs.

At Key Stage 4 and 5 units of work have been carefully selected so that ethos of our intent remains both visible and viable.  Our GCSE and A Level courses aim to nurture and develop prior learning or content, concepts, or context wherever possible.  At Key Stage 4 students study the Edexcel GCSE History 9-1 specification.  At Key Stage 5 students study the OCR A Level History course.

At all stages, the History curriculum promotes the importance of reading and use historical scholarship.  Students will develop their understanding of history and the work of the historian through engagement with historical scholarship in the classroom.  Reading skills are supported and developed through a range of embedded class and homework tasks and is enhanced through our extra curricula provision of History Book Club for Years 7-11 and The History Scholarship Programme for Post 16 students.

Subject Overview