History

Intent

Passion for History

Students who study History at Standish Community High School will leave with a passion for exploring, discussing and challenging interpretations of the past, not only questioning in the classroom but also at home and in their future careers. The historians from Standish will be fascinated by past events, people and societies, as a result of approachable, collaborative and inspirational teaching over our five year journey together. Historical enquiries across the 5-year learning journey will equip students with the investigative skills and confidence to achieve success at the end of KS4, opening the door to further exploration of History as a young adult and beyond.

Personal Development

Students will develop an inquisitive mind and a love of learning by being hooked by stories filled with controversy, conflict and control. Thought-provoking topics such as slavery and the Holocaust will enhance students’ moral compass and provide them with an explicit awareness of the importance of tolerance, mutual respect and diversity in society. The drive to make students feel outstanding will be complimented by the provision of enrichment opportunities, with visits to sites that bring the curriculum to life, such as the Imperial War Museum and historic landmarks within their local region, also providing students with wider cultural experiences which will produce a more rounded, knowledgeable citizen.

Broad and Deep Knowledge

Standish historians will have a broad and balanced understanding of British, European and World history, equipping them with the confidence and ability to express opinions on past and current affairs. Acquisition of knowledge will be a significant outcome for any History student at Standish Community High School as the complex and fascinating nature of our chosen topics, such as the medieval Kingdom of Mali, the Reformation, the causes of the 20th Century World Wars and the establishment of the Nazi dictatorship will challenge and engage our students to inspire their passion for deeper historical knowledge.

Skills for the Future

The skills developed by Standish historians will create confident individuals who are able to analyse contemporary and current evidence to reach informed, reasoned judgements, supported by contextual knowledge which has been committed to memory. The skill of debate that is encouraged in every History classroom, will develop as students mature, to the point that students can confidently argue and counter-argue a case in written and verbal form: an invaluable asset in a range of future careers.

History

The History Department at Standish Community High School is a vibrant, exciting and popular area of the school. Students in History will leave with a passion for History, a broad and deep knowledge of the past & valuable skills for the future. They will also have benefited from personal development through moral, social & cultural development.

To this end, we deliver an outstanding curriculum were students undertake a series of historical enquiries to encourage them to think critically for themselves and develop their own views of the past. Students are encouraged to think about the wider significance of events and to appreciate how the past has shaped the world we live in today. Through their studies, they develop fundamental historical skills such as research, analysis and evaluation, which will serve them well in the future.

Key Stage 3

At Key Stage 3, students will develop their knowledge of some of the formative periods of History. They will develop key skills in History such as understanding change and continuity, causation, interpretation and chronology. Pupils study topics such as life before 1066, The Normans, The Tudors, The English Civil War, The Transatlantic Salve Trade, Politics of the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution, The Great War, the Rise of Communism and Fascism, World War II and the Holocaust.

How Are Students Taught?

The History Department has worked to create a curriculum to best meet the many, and varied, needs of the student body. Our curriculum promotes involvement, giving students the opportunity to work individually, in pairs and collaboratively. Students learn to take responsibility for their own learning and become keen-minded and self-disciplined. We seek to develop the analytical skills of our students and nurture their ability to evaluate the significance of events, people, and historical sources themselves.

Extra-Curricular

The department believes in bringing history to life and offers opportunities to enrich students’ experience of History. We plan to offer an educational visit in each Key Stage. Students across Key Stage 3 will be given the opportunity to visit a site of historical significance including local castles, museums and historical sites. History teachers here at Standish also provide lunchtime and after school support sessions and a comprehensive revision programme to cater to the needs of Key Stage Three and GCSE students.