HISTORY DEPARTMENT
The History department delivers the National Curriculum and GCSE History curricula
for the school. Each year the department also delivers an extra curricular programme
involving pupils from all year groups and abilities.
Staffing
Two full time specialists, who hold teaching qualifications to Degree and PGCE
(Post-Graduate Certificate in Education) level, staff the department. Specialist
areas cover, Modern History, Economic History, Politics and Social Science and
PGCEs in History and English, History and Social Science not to mention many
years teaching experience.
Facilities
For a relatively small department we have some impressive facilities.
The department has 3 dedicated History rooms each with a PC,
digital projector, whiteboard, TV/video, DVD player, and OHP.
As a Specialist School for Mathematics and Computing we have
access to the new ‘Sir Tom Cowie’ ICT Suite and
resource centre. We also make use of one of Sunderland’s
City Learning Centres (CLC), which is based at Southmoor.
Home-school learning is now a reality in the History department as we make use
of the Sunderland Schools (VLE)
Virtual Learning Environment. We have folders that are web-based for pupils
to continue learning at home.
The department also has its own digital cameras and video camera, which allows
pupils to produce their own historical productions.
The History Department also has its own extensive video and reference library
not to mention a wide range of textbooks accessible to pupils of all abilities.
Key Stage 3 Curriculum
All pupils are taught History in mixed ability groups. The curriculum is designed
to follow the National
Curriculum Key Stage 3 Strategy for History and assessment procedures follow
the guidelines laid out in this document. Our Schemes of Work follow the AQA
format.
A wide variety of subject matter is covered in Key Stage 3, years 7 and 8 have
1 hour a week. Year 7 pupils cover Chronology, The Roman Empire and Medieval
Realms, this focuses on Kingship and the development of the Medieval Monarchy.
Our Castle Competition provides opportunity for parental involvement and we also
undertake a visit to two local Roman forts (Segedunum and Arbeia)
to support the Roman Empire study unit.
Year 8 Pupils look at unit, ‘The Making of the UK ’. This concentrates
on the development of society and Parliament from the Middle Ages to the Modern
age.
In year 9, the pupils receive 2 hours of History a week. ‘Expansion, trade
and industry’, which looks at the Industrial Revolution and Britain 's
emergence as a World Power. Pupils also study ‘Black peoples of the Americas ’,
'Native North Americans' and the ‘Twentieth Century World’.
We deliver all areas in various ways by making full use of staff expertise, cross
curricular elements and facilities i n ICT, drama, art and literacy.
Key Stage 4 Curriculum
The department is proud to announce A*-C grades in 2006 of 60%.
History at Key Stage 4 is an option subject. In the Academic
year 2006 - 2006, 53 pupils will begin the course in year 10.
From September 2006 the department will be following a new GCSE
course .
Year 10 pupils follow the GCSE
History AQA Syllabus A (Medicine and Public Health Through Time syllabus.
This exam has two papers. Paper one covers, ‘Medicine in
the Ancient World’, 'Medieval and Renaissance Medicine’, ’Medicine
in the Industrial and Modern World’ and ‘Public Health
in Britain ’. Paper two looks at Germany 1919 – 1945.
Pupils also complete course work on Castles and the Vietnam War.
Year 11 pupils currently follow the GCSE
History AQA Syllabus B (Modern World) syllabus. This includes
'Conflict in the Modern world - International and British History
1000 - 1949' and 'Governments in Action' focusing on Germany
1919 - 1939 and the U.S.A. 1919 – 1941.Pupils have also
completed course work on Evacuation and the Vietnam War.
Extra-Curricular Activities
The department has a dedicated team of staff who encourage pupils to enrich their
historical skills by taking part in activities out of lesson hours. At Key Stage
Four coursework workshops and weekly revision classes are run regularly.
The History department has a group of pupils who support and help improve the
department. This group is called the History Improvement Group (HIGS). Past projects
have included research and display work on ‘Mathematicians Through Time’ and
the production of props to assist with department role-plays.
KS3 pupils are encouraged to attend the Debating Club, which helps to expand
their knowledge, investigation, analytical thinking skills as well as communication
and debating techniques.
The department has a long running affiliation with the Sunderland
Antiquarian Society. Previously they have helped Pupils investigate various
aspects of local history. They take an active role in judging our famous Castle
Competition and helped give pupils an insight on the evacuation of children from
Sunderland during World War Two.
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