“If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday.” Pearl S. Buck, award winning American author.
Why study History?
History fires pupils’ curiosity and imagination, moving and inspiring them with the dilemmas, choices and beliefs of people in the past. It helps pupils develop their own identities through an understanding of history at personal, local, national and international levels. It helps them to ask and answer questions of the present by engaging with the past.
Whilst studying history at St Joseph’s, pupils find out about the history of their community, Britain, Europe and the world. They develop a chronological overview that enables them to make connections within and across different periods and societies. They investigate Britain’s relationships with the wider world, and relate past events to the present day.
As they progress through the school, pupils begin to ask and answer important questions, evaluate evidence, identify and analyse different interpretations of the past, and learn to substantiate any arguments and judgements they make. They appreciate why they are learning what they are learning and can debate its significance.
The History department at St Joseph’s aims to prepare pupils for the future, equipping them with knowledge and skills that are prized in adult life, enhancing employability and developing an ability to take part in a democratic society. It encourages mutual understanding of the historic origins of our ethnic and cultural diversity, and helps pupils become confident and questioning individuals.
The department is staffed by a team of dedicated and committed professionals with a love of their subject and a desire to enthuse and engage all pupils in the fascinating world of history.
History at Key Stage 3
Pupils study a variety of topics at Key Stage 3. The curriculum has a broadly chronological approach, with Year 7 pupils studying aspects of Medieval and Tudor England; Year 8 covers aspects of British and world history from the 16th to the 19th centuries, and Year 9 pupils study the 20th century to the present day.
We also take a thematic approach to the study of history at St Joseph’s, looking at themes such as “Power & Control”, “Everyday Life” “War and Conflict” and encourage pupils to discover and investigate patterns, changes and consequences across the curriculum to develop their understanding of how our world has been shaped by past events.
Throughout these programmes of study pupils will develop their key skills in history such as using sources, understanding change and continuity, cause and consequence, and developing their knowledge and understanding of the past and how it affects the present.
History at Key Stage 4
Pupils will follow WJEC GCSE History specification B. For GCSE History, pupils study 3 units that are examined at the end of Year 11. These units are:-
Germany in Transition 1929 – 1947
The Changing Role of Women 1900 to the Present Day
Medicine and Health through Time 1345 – Present Day
In addition pupils complete 2 pieces of Controlled Assessment on an aspect of 20th century history. Past topics have included the Evacuation of Children during World War II and interpretations of the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940.
GCSE history is a skills based subject where pupils develop skills of reading, analysis, organisation, summarising, reviewing and evaluating. They also learn not to take information at face value and become confident and independent thinkers.
History Post -16
In Year 12 pupils receive 5 lessons of history per week and undertake 2 courses. We follow the AQA specification.
One of the AS courses is an aspect of British history; either Britain 1815 – 65 or New Liberalism 1902 – 1918. The other course is an aspect of Russian history, either Stalin’s Russia 1924 – 1941 or Tsarist Russia 1855 – 1917. Y13 pupils study further complimentary courses on British history, employing knowledge and skills already gained and further developing their ability to evaluate and analyse and present a coherent and well constructed argument. They also undertake a Personal Study on the history of Germany between 1830 and 1945, examining in detail the turbulent history of this fascinating country. Within this framework they can then investigate a topic of their choice in depth.
Lesson activities include debating, presentations, independent research, discussions and in depth analysis, thereby developing wider skills that are essential for study in any subject at university.
Beyond…..
The History department offers a number of visits including a cross curricular trip to Fountains Abbey with the Geography dept. Our 6th form students also enjoy a residential visit to London in conjunction with the Art department. Pupils have the opportunity to visit Thackray Medical Museum in Leeds as part of their GCSE course as well as off site revision workshops prepared by examiners.
