History
Intent
We aim for our students to understand some of the most significant events in world History. We aim for students to be able to access modern the world today and to be able to navigate the complexities of where our modern societies have originated from.
We aim to equip our students with the skills to become critical and analytical thinkers and appreciate Britain’s place in the modern world whilst analysing that Historical interpretations are multi-faceted and constantly changing. This is particularly focused upon in our study of historical interpretations of the First World War, when looking at ‘Why did the First World War become a story of mud, blood and misery?’
We aim for our students to examine History from different cultures and to appreciate local, national and global scales of Historical thinking. This includes our recognition of ‘Acstede’ in the Domesday book right through to ‘Moments that shook the modern world’.
We recognise that a true study of History encapsulates a diverse array of contexts and cultures. This includes the studies of:
- Who are the British?
- Why did the world open up in the 16th and17th centuries?
- Were black people truly emancipated by the civil rights movement?
We aim for students to be able to investigate a range of cultures, events and characters from the past and appreciate the depth of individual case studies, alongside a wider sense of broader periods and society.
We aim for our students to develop key historical skills and to be able to apply them to a range of different contexts.
At KS4 students will develop an understanding of the major themes and turning points over the past 2000 years of British History and be able to explain how countries such as Germany and Britain can dramatically change in a short period of time. In doing so, students will develop their essay writing skills and an understanding of how to critique a wide range of sources. These skills are crucial for any student who is looking to go into a range of careers. These units are taught because the offer students a broad and balanced curriculum with a range of topics. With two of our units selected because they give students an understanding of Britain’s past. Weimar and Nazi Germany is chosen because students continue to be fascinated by how one man was able to go from homeless to arguably the most powerful man in Modern History and the Cold War provides students with a clear understanding of International Relations and how they have changed since the Second World War.
The curriculum is without doubt knowledge rich but we endeavour to provide students with the skills necessary to question sources they come across, ask questions and not accept things at face value. These choices we have made are garnered towards encouraging our students to delve deeper into the world of mass media where they can find out more about each these fascinating topics.
It is important that we study these units because they are popular with students but also give students a grounding in Britain’s vast History – they want to learn more about each topic and because this way we are able to really captivate their interest in the subject we as specialists love.
There are various cross curricular links that students are exposed to with heavy influence in both English and Drama on these key topics. The beauty of studying History is that the skills the students are required to develop are incredibly flexible.
Our Learning Journey
Qualifications and Exam Board Information
Staff Contacts
Head of Faculty - Miss N King - nicola.king@oxted.thpt.org.uk
Head of Department - Mr A Harney - adam.harney@oxted.thpt.org.uk