The importance of history in the curriculum
People who study history are essentially explorers of the past. They investigate past societies, cultures, health, education, conflicts and much more. They look at how events and issues have developed over time and connect the dots to understand how we got where we are today. Studying history can also be inspiring. When we discover what people have achieved against the odds and how change occurs over time, it can give us the motivation we need to succeed.
At Goldington we have designed an engaging curriculum which, from the start of Year Seven, sets pupils off on a GCSE pathway. To that end, the knowledge and skills needed for success in GCSE History are an integral part of teaching and learning.
To enrich learning the History Department aims to organise the following educational experiences each year:
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Year 7: Stansted Mountfitchet Castle
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Year 8: Online curriculum-based workshop led by the National Archives
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Year 9:
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Visiting speaker from the Holocaust Educational Trust
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Visit to the Imperial War Museum (London site)
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Visit to Foster Hill Road Cemetery in conjunction with the Geography, Science and Art Departments
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Online curriculum-based workshop led by the National Archives
Homework and assessment
Every half-term in history, pupils can expect the following homework tasks:
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A reading homework
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A knowledge test
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A creative revision activity
These tasks will all work to either extend or consolidate pupils’ understanding of the course content so far, as well as allowing us to continue to check their understanding and develop key skills. Sometimes these homework tasks will be adjusted to suit the requirements of the course (e.g., completing project work at home), but they will largely follow the stated pattern.