Department Head: Miss Weiss

Department Members: Mrs Rogers, Miss Egerton

The Aims and Objectives of the Department

Our aim is to bring history to life. As a department we are extremely passionate about our subject. The teaching style of the department is largely investigative - learning by finding out.

The aim is to make the study of History a "hands-on" subject, with pupils producing work they are proud of. Each lesson seeks to engage and interest all pupils, with an enthusiastic delivery and, above all, an interesting style of teaching. It is a pupil-centred approach. Pupils will experience a large number of teaching and learning approaches, including whole-class teaching, individual and group work, projects, research, class presentations, source-work, drama and role play, oral History, video and the use of ICT. This varied approach allows for all students to reach their full potential.

• To develop an enthusiasm and a lifelong love of History
• To contribute to the development of literacy and communicative skills.
• To develop historical skills, such as problem solving and interpreting evidence.
• To develop pupils’ understanding of their heritage and of the world in which we live  

History at Key Stage 3

Whilst following the guidelines of the National Curriculum, our choice of topic areas are determined by their historical value and level of interest. We have a varied curriculum whilst also taking the opportunity to study certain areas in greater depth. We believe History is a big favourite with pupils because we teach an eclectic range of topics that pupils want to learn about. History is taught for three lessons over the two week timetable.

In Year 7 pupils study about

• 1066 and the Norman Conquest
• Norman Castles
• Crime and punishment in medieval times
• Robin Hood
• Thomas Becket

Year 8 pupils study about …

• Life in Tudor times
• Henry VIII
• Elizabeth I
• Spanish Armada

Year 8 Special Project on Slavery

Again we finish the year with a half-term study on one topic. We follow the life of an African person, across the Atlantic into slavery.The students follow the journey step by step and gain a full understanding of the experience. As you can see from some of these quotes from our pupils they value this study

"Studying Kunte Kinte and slavery made me think about my life and how lucky we are today"

"I didn’t really know anything about slavery until our lessons.I think I learnt about something that is really important that everyone should know something about"

 

In Year 9 pupils study about ...

• The Industrial Age
• Titanic
• World War One
• World War Two
• The Holocaust

History at Key Stage 4

History is a very popular and successful option at GCSE. The course aims to enable students to develop their knowledge and understanding of the past. Students learn how the past has been represented and how events can be seen differently by different people.

The syllabus we study at Hartford is the AQA Syllabus A Schools History Project. History is taught over five classes in the two week timetable. It provides the opportunity to concentrate on two main topics:

• Medicine Through Time

From trepanning (drilling holes in the skull), to mummification, from the Black Death, to Florence Nightingale. We investigate how medical care has developed through time, from pre-historic times right up to the modern day. This is a fascinating and in-depth study.

• The American West 1840 - 1895

We study the development of the American West during the nineteenth century. The migration of white settlers to the American Plains brought conflict against the Native Americans which ended in the destruction of their traditional lifestyle. We look in depth at the reasons for this conflict and the types of settlers involved including homesteaders, cattlemen and cowboys.

Coursework

There are two pieces of written coursework, one undertaken during each year of study:-

• Year 10 - A Local Study Quarry Bank Mill

A chance to learn about and visit one of the best preserved historical sites in the UK.

• Year 11 - Conflict in Ireland

A challenging and stimulating topic which never fails to stir interest and discussion.

Final Method of Assessment

Two pieces of Coursework - 25%

Two written Examinations - 75%