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History - Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 GCSE
The aim of the History curriculum is to enable students to develop their understanding of the past and how it has impacted our society today. Students study a variety of topics, ranging from prehistory to 9/11.
Students are introduced to key historical skills such as source analysis and the History curriculum is planned to enable students to apply their knowledge and historical skills to any topic. The curriculum prepares students for further historical study by continually revisiting and practicing the historical skills in every unit they study at ICC.
Throughout the History curriculum at ICC, students will have aspects of local history weaved through many of the units. From studying Roman Leicester, Tudor society, Black Death in Knaptoft to Kenilworth Castle at GCSE; students not only learn about the wider world but history on their doorstep.
Students will follow a trail of understand the experiences of minority groups across the globe, throughout different time periods.
KS3
Year 7
In year 7 we study different periods of time to uncover what life was like pre and post colonization. The first term is focused on learning the historical skills needed to explore and understand our historical past. These skills are revisited in every lesson to foster confidence and the skills needed for young historians.
Year 8
In year 8, we develop these historical skills by studying larger and more complex units of early modern and modern history. The year 8 curriculum focuses on the changes throughout history regarding church, state, minority groups and ideas. Students are introduced to historical scholarship and will study units by reading extracts from real historians such as Miranda Kaufmann and Andrea Stuart. This helps students develop critical thinking and analysis skills; both vital in history. Students follow our next theme of control and prejudice in colonized countries.
Year 9
The 20th century was the bloodiest century in our history, and year 9 is dedicated to its study. Each unit focuses on particular events of the century beginning with the Suffrage movement right up to recent events in the War on Terror unit. Students have the opportunity to deepen their historical skills by analysing these events and how they have impacted the world we live in today. The year 9 curriculum prepares students for further study at GCSE by exploring second order historical concepts such as significance, change, continuity and causation. Year 9 concludes our in depth, thematic study of minority groups looking at persecution and prosecution.
KS4
At GCSE, students study the OCR History B Specification. This course allows for students to expand on knowledge gained throughout their KS3 studies while developing analytical and writing skills needed for further study and occupations. OCR History B has a diverse and meaningful curriculum, allowing for a rich understanding of the world. A unique feature of this specification is the History Around Us unit which gives students the opportunity to study a historical site in detail.
Students study 5 topics, across 3 components (see table below). Students have 3 exam papers at the end of their GCSE course in line with the components.
The topics will be taught in the following order in order to build upon knowledge students gained in their KS3 curriculum for a strong start to their GCSE. Students will be expected to complete a minimum of 1 hour’s homework a fortnight. This will be a mixture of directed time, independent research and completing class work.