History and RE
The Curriculum Purpose
The History and Religious Studies curriculum inspires students to become curious about and engage with the past, as well as a diverse range of religious and non-religious beliefs. The study of both history and religion are essential for understanding the events, individuals, religious and cultural influences that have shaped the world we live in today. At KS3, students study an integrated curriculum, reflecting the multi-faceted and multi-disciplinary nature of History and Religion. Students study key historical events in addition to the development of religions and non-religious worldviews over time and in relation to each other. Students make use of enquiry led learning and engage with the disciplines of history, theology, philosophy, human and social sciences. Through these lenses’ students are encouraged to interrogate evidence, interpretations, religions, and differing worldviews. In doing so, they develop a wide range of skills including empathy and respect towards the views of others, as well as values such as inclusivity, and tolerance. At KS4 the subjects are taught discreetly; the skills acquired in our KS3 curriculum are building blocks of substantive knowledge and critical thinking that lay the foundation for KS4 and KS5. Our curriculum encourages students to explore aspects of their identities at a local, national, and international level, engaging with the experiences of a diverse range of people in a wide range of contexts and historical settings.
Key concepts that underpin the subject area
- Engagement in historical enquiry (thinking about the past)
- Reaching substantiated conclusions supported by evidence
- Use of subject specific vocabulary, both historical and religious
- Developing as critical and reflective thinkers
- Analysis and evaluation of source material
- Engaging with sources of wisdom and authority
- Ability to make links and comparisons within different time periods/factors and different religious and non-religious beliefs and practices
- Understanding of religious and non-religious beliefs and practices
- Understanding the themes of politics, economics, social, religious, and cultural and how they have impacted on key events/individuals
- Developing an understanding of historical interpretations (analysing/evaluating interpretations)
- Significance – understanding/explaining why some events, factors, people are more significant
- Cultural awareness and development of global thinking
What will you see in lessons?
- High expectations of all learners
- Engagement and participation by all
- Opportunities for students to articulate their ideas verbally and improve their oracy
- Adaptive teaching
- Multi-media resources
- Wide range of questioning
- Collaborative and individual writing tasks
What will you see in exercise books?
- High expectation for presentation of work exercise books
- A knowledge organiser at the beginning of each enquiry
- End of unit assessments with teacher feedback in red pen
- Redrafted work in green pen where students make improvements and act on feedback
- Consistent use of literary and marking key across department
What formative assessment will you see in History and RE?
- Teacher questioning of pupils and targeted questioning
- Multiple choice and low stakes quizzes to check understanding and comprehension
- Opportunities for students to talk – ‘Think, Pair, Share’
- End of unit assessments and acting on feedback lessons with a focus on whole class targets and misconceptions as well as individual feedback
- Time in lesson for students to act on their teacher feedback in lessons
- Mock exams for Key Stage 4 and 5
What Extra-curricular is available from the History and RE department?
KS3
- MY History Project: Students develop historical and research skills by examining sources, interpretations and delve into their own personal histories.
- History and RE Film Club: Students watch and then discuss a wide variety of films about historical events and key figures, as well as religion, philosophy, and ethical issues.
- Students have attended trips to places of worship in the local community. They have also visited Kenwood House, The National Army Museum, The Imperial War Museum, and Hampton Court Palace.
KS4
- To compliment their study of both Superpower Relations and the Cold War 1943-1991, and Weimar Nazi Germany1918-39, our GCSE students visit the city of Berlin, Germany.
- They have also visited the battlefields and memorial sites in Belgium and France. This supports the study of The British sector of the Western Front, 1914–18
KS5
- In collaboration with the Holocaust Educational Trust, students are offered the unique opportunity to participate in a four-part course focusing on the Holocaust including a trip to Auschwitz and Birkenau in Poland. Students become ambassadors of the Trust as well as gaining ASDAN credits for their university applications.
- Students also have access to the Student Zone of the Historical Association. This provides a wealth of podcasts, videos, articles, and resources to support their studies and their wider enjoyment of History.