History and Politics

Key Stages 3 and 4 

Curriculum Intent

Developing critical thinkers who understand the world today through their study of society, politics, economics, and culture in the past.  

Curriculum Rationale

The History department at Spalding Grammar Schools aims to develop critical thinkers who understand the world around them through the study of the past. We aim to deliver a curriculum that is relevant to our students and inspires and challenges them to question, research, investigate, make comparisons between periods, analyse and draw conclusions about the past. Progression in terms of both content and skills equips students in preparation for further study of the subject or with the highly transferrable skills in communication, empathy, organisation, presentation, inference, moral and ethical dilemmas, analysis and evaluation needed in the world of work. 

The curriculum at Key Stage Three is designed to give students a broad basis of British History from medieval times to the present. It is intended that students will develop an understanding of the key features of medieval, early modern and modern Britain with an increased focus on Britain’s place in the world from Year 8 and a greater focus on international relations in Year 9. We consider concepts like power and control, diversity, industrialisation, civil rights and freedoms. We engage students through an enquiry-based approach which allows students to investigate challenging questions about the past encouraging students to engage with a range of source material from the past and scholarly debate on issues of current interest between historians. Enrichment opportunities further increase enthusiasm for the study of History (the history of warfare) through a trip to IWM Duxford in Year 8 and the opportunity to participate in a World war I battlefields tour in Year 9. 

Units taught at GCSE include the study of Warfare Through Time (1250-present), a unit made by popular choice from the students themselves and which is supported by a visit to the Royal Armouries in Leeds where students experience some Civil War re-enactments and training. We also study Early Elizabethan England, 1558-1588, a topic of local relevance to us as a school granted our charter by the Queen in 1588. Weimar and Nazi Germany is studied in Year 11, popular among our students from their Key Stage Three study but also highly relevant in the comparison between democracy and dictatorship, how dictatorships can develop, the role of the economy within this, the importance of propaganda and terror and the consideration of how far people become indoctrinated within the regime. Finally, Superpower Relations and the Cold War is taught as part of Year nine study, a decision in part enforced by the volume of content at GCSE but one that compliments the focus on international relations within our Year 9 curriculum. 

 

Key Stages 5 

History Department Overview 

Developing critical thinkers who understand the world today through their study of society, politics, economics, and culture in the past.  

At A Level  we follow the Edexcel syllabus and our choice of units reflect our own students’ overall preference for modern History, and in Year 12, are linked by the theme of “Searching for Rights and Freedoms in the 20th Century.” Students study American politics society and culture exploring topics such as the role of the President, the impact of war on politics, the quest for Civil Rights, society and culture in change and changing quality of life. Alongside this, students also study India’s road to independence.  In Year 13 by a study of the British Empire. We are exceptionally proud of our curriculum that raises controversial and relevant issues and debates surrounding the nature of government, protest, equality and human rights. Students are challenged to look at the history of modern Britain, American and India through the eyes of different groups and individuals in society and develop an in-depth understanding of their perspectives, while also developing their own perspectives and interpretations.  

We are very proud that we offer a much more extensive choice of coursework questions than many other schools, supported by the fact that we have a range of expertise in the department and have invested in resources to support a diverse range of coursework enquiries. We have also supported a number of students to develop their own questions on areas of historical debate that they have a particular interest in. Having a wide selection encourages students to identify their own areas of interest, to challenge themselves and to develop the independence to support them in higher education or in employment. 

The course compliments and supports study in higher education not only of History but a range of other subjects including Economics, Politics, Law, American studies, Sociology to name just a few. 

 

Staff

• Miss L Skipworth (Head of Department)
• Mr T Renwick
• Mrs L Woodley
• Mrs K Vigus-Humphrey