History

The History curriculum in the First Form takes pupils on a journey through the Medieval World. We begin our course in Anglo-Saxon England and examine the fight for the throne in 1066. On our historical journey, we uncover how the Normans changed England and left their mark on the country we live in today; we consider the importance of the Medieval Church and the changing relationship between religion and the Crown; we study key turning points such as the Black Death and the Peasants’ Revolt allowing pupils to establish parallels between the challenges faced in the past and the present; we enjoy getting to know about life in Medieval England and realise that food and community activities have drawn people together for generations. In addition to the British Isles, we place great importance on understanding the wider world through our discovery of Islamic Civilisations and the Crusades, where we consider their impact on the advancement of knowledge and the importance of diplomatic relations.

In addition to developing strong historical knowledge and a sense of place, we also seek to nurture an understanding of continuity and change. We strive for pupils to be able to identify important turning points and see in events in their historical context. Pupils will also develop an awareness of differing interpretations and be able to assess the significance of events and individuals with confidence. Pupils will gain an insight into source analysis and evaluation and be able to communicate their ideas about history effectively through written work, discussion, role-play and drama, using a range of primary and secondary sources.

We make excellent use of our wonderful school site and frequently visit Gloucester Cathedral to enhance our understanding of religion in the Middle Ages. In addition to this, we also take an annual trip to the exciting sites of Chepstow and Goodrich castles, and Tintern Abbey.