Intent
The History curriculum at Barnwell School develops our students’ ability to understand and have knowledge of the History of Britain and the wider world. The curriculum is sequenced in a chronological narrative, which focuses on change and continuity. Along with the exposition to knowledge, the curriculum offers students the opportunity to grasp and engage in historical enquiry. Students will understand the process of change; to see how we have arrived ‘here’ and to help them to make sense of the present. History allows us to understand how the world we live in today was shaped by events in the past.
At KS3 our History curriculum is aimed to spark students' interest and enthusiasm for History and equip them with the skills and knowledge they need to write, think and debate like a historian. We want to inspire students’ curiosity to ask questions and know more about Britain’s past, and that of the wider world, and for our students to challenge perceptions of the world that they encounter. Our KS3 curriculum is designed with a chronological narrative in mind, which allows students to examine change and continuity over time.
The aim for our curriculum at GCSE is for our students to construct arguments and support them to become analytical citizens who can question human motivation and society with skill and confidence. Through our GCSE curriculum we want our students to learn how to construct arguments and balance evidence alongside knowledge of historical chronology. Students are assessed through three GCSE exam papers at the end of Year 11.
Students follow the Edexcel syllabus:
They are studying:
• Medicine in Britain, c1250–present and The British sector of the Western Front, 1914–18: injuries, treatment and the trenches.
• Henry VIII and his Ministers
• The American West 1835-1895
• Weimar and Nazi Germany 1918-1939
The aim of the A Level curriculum at Barnwell is to engage and develop critical thinking Historians. It allows students to gain a deeper understanding of the past through political, social, economic and cultural perspectives. Students will be following the AQA syllabus, and we have elected to choose the following components:
Component 1: Breadth study – The Tudors: England, 1485–1603.
Component 2: Depth study – Revolution and dictatorship: Russia, 1917–1953.
Students also complete a Historical Investigation based on the Civil Rights in America.
We believe that these components of study allow our students to expand their wider knowledge of the construction of the world we live in today, and provide the opportunity to develop their critical thinking skills by analysing sources and interpretations. The design of the Historical Investigation also provides our students with excellent preparation skills for life beyond Barnwell, as it encourages curiosity, exploration, and consolidation of ideas.
Learning Journey
Click the image to download.
Curriculum Map
