Department Staff:

Mrs S. Glaze	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Subject Leader
Mrs E. Farmer	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	History Teacher
Miss E. Paxford	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	History Teacher
Mr D. Southcombe	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	History Teacher

History is a popular and successful subject in the school, in August 2008, 87% of Year 11 candidates achieved A* to C within GCSE Full Course history and 43% of those students achieved A* & A grades.

The Warriner School History Department wants all students to enjoy history and understand its importance and relevance to the world today. We want to encourage our students to question the past and be curious about how the past impacts on their future.
Our aims in history teaching at The Warriner School are best summed up by the QCA.
"History fires pupils' curiosity and imagination. It helps them to ask and answer questions of the present by engaging with the past.
As they develop their understanding of the nature of historical study, pupils 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.
History prepares 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."

KS3  

Pupils follow the National Curriculum, beginning in Year 7 with Native Americans and Medieval Britain 1060-1500. In Year 8 we focus on Tudors and Stuarts and in the summer terms we move onto the British Empire and its links with the history of the Black Peoples of the Americas, this is then compared with the Roman Empire’s growth and demise. Finally Year 9 pupils study the Industrialisation of Britain and the Twentieth Century World.

In year 7 history is taught in mixed ability groups, from Year 8 2 top set groups are formed with 6 other mixed ability groups. Year 7 pupils have the opportunity to visit Kenilworth Castle while working on their Medieval Studies.

KS4

Pupils follow syllabus OCR Modern World B J417. From September 2009 this will be a new syllabus covering Germany 1918-1945, Modern World International Relations 1945-75, British History 1890-1918 and a new ‘Controlled Assessment – Historical Enquiry’ which will replace the current coursework unit.

International International Relations 1945-1975

The syllabus focuses on a number of key questions. Topics include: the causes of the Cold War; Arms Race between the superpowers USA and USSR, the spread of communism; USA and USSR relations; The Cuban Missile Crisis and the Presidency of John F. Kennedy; The Vietnam War- how America became involved Vietnam, tactics and Why America pulled out of Vietnam.

Study in Depth- Germany 1918-1945

This unit of work takes a closer look at the development of Nazism in the 1920s and 1930s. How the end of World War One affected Germany; Germany in the 1920s – Weimar Germany; how and why Adolf Hitler was able to come to power. Once in power students investigate how it was possible to Nazify everyday life, including children’s education, culture and cinema; the causes of World War Two including Hitler’s foreign policy; the impact of war on the German people and the Final Solution.

How did British Society change from 1890-1918?

This unit involves historical enquiry into a period of British history. It gives candidates opportunities to investigate specific historical questions, problems and issues; use a range of historical sources and reach reasoned conclusions; and analyse and evaluate how the past has been interpreted and represented in different ways. Pupils will be expected to use their contextual knowledge to help them comprehend, interpret, evaluate and use sources and historical interpretations and representations.

• Why did the Liberal government introduce reforms to help the young, old and unemployed?
• What were the arguments for and against female suffrage?
• How were civilians affected by the war?
• How effective was government propaganda during the war?

Historical Enquiry- Controlled Assessment Unit

This is a new form of coursework based on The Role of the Individual in History. This unit is worth 25% of the total marks given for this GCSE. Pupils will have the opportunity to independently investigate the significance of a historical figure of their choice in preparation for the Controlled Assessment when the individual in question will be chosen by the exam board. The Controlled Assessment will take place in 8 lessons and should be approximately 2000 words long. Pupils are expected to choose different interpretations from a variety of perspectives to form their own opinions and conclusions.

Examination Results: Whole Cohort (including Short Course and Full Course History results)

 Full Course GCSE History only