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History

Name of Head of Department

Miss L Matthews, BA (Hons) QTS

Statement of Intent

History at DHSG will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of purposefully selected historical events, cause and consequence, and resonance to the modern day in line with the National Curriculum.

The diversity of the content also acknowledges the narrative of marginalised groups, which challenges and provokes curiosity to be developed through debate. This is delivered in harness with the development of core history and historiographical skills centering on analysis, evaluation, interpretation, and significance.

We interleave the curriculum across the three key stages to provide students with a sound understanding of the world in which they live, carefully developed transferable skills which are monitored and delivered with intent by subject experts.   

Curriculum Programmes of Study

Year

Cycle Content

Year 7

Cycle 1

Mediaeval Britain

Cycle 2

Tudor/Elizabethan Britain

Cycle 3

Stuart Britain

Year 8

Cycle 1

Victorian Britain

Cycle 2

Empire and Enslavement

Cycle 3

Modern World History

Year 9

Cycle 1

The Reigns of King Richard and King John 1189-1215

Cycle 2

The Reigns of King Richard and King John 1189-1215

Migrants in Britain, c800-present

Cycle 3

Migrants in Britain, c800-present

Year 10

Cycle 1

Migrants in Britain, c800-present

Cycle 2

Russia and the Soviet Union, 1917-1941

Cycle 3

Russia and the Soviet Union, 1917-1941

Year 11

Cycle 1

Russia and the Soviet Union, 1917-1941

Superpower Relations and the Cold War, 1945-1991

Cycle 2

Superpower Relations and the Cold War, 1945-1991

Cycle 3

Superpower Relations and the Cold War, 1945-1991

Revision and Exams

Lower Years Assessment Framework

To view the Lower Years Assessment Framework for History, please click here

Middle Years Exam and Specification Information

Students will follow the Edexcel GCSE course. The examination takes the form of three papers. Edexcel have designed a course that provides students with a breadth and depth of understanding of history. 

Full details of the specification and assessment criteria can be found on the Edexcel website GCSE History Specification

Extra-curricular activities

In recent years, year 7 students have had the opportunity to visit Plymouth University cinema to watch a screening of horrible histories, and in the Autumn term they participated in the History x Computer Science 3D printed castle design competition. Year 8 spent a day visiting Launceston Castle and Bodmin Jail to explore how crime and punishment in the South West have changed over time. To support the GCSE migration unit, Year 9 students visit the M-Shed museum in Bristol for a closer look at how the Trans-Atlantic slave trade has shaped British communities, and year 10 and 12 students are invited to attend the GCSE and A Level schools day at the Chalke Valley History Festival in summer term. There are also regular opportunities for students to attend theatre productions. In recent years this has included trips to Six!, War Horse, Hamilton, and Miss Saigon.

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