History & Politics |

History & Politics

Blue Coat School > Curriculum Vision > Subjects > History & Politics

Curriculum Intent

The history curriculum at Blue Coat aims to deliver excellent history over 7 years, using a range of quality sources and texts and introducing high level of history discussion; a Curriculum that is academic, challenging, and inclusive of all, which inspires students to continue study at GCSE, A Level and beyond. We look to contribute to the school aim of living life in all its fullness, offering extra-curricular opportunities for students to experience and engage with History outside of the classroom.

We offer a broad and balanced curriculum that inspires curiosity through high quality storytelling and delivers key knowledge of chronology. We look to enable students to make connections and build their knowledge and understanding of events and societies throughout their time at Blue Coat.

We aim to provide students with coherent knowledge of Britain’s past as well as that of the wider world, to help students address key questions of how Britain has changed and influenced/been influenced by the wider world.

We embed key disciplinary concepts of change/continuity, cause/consequence, similarity/difference, significance and how the past has been interpreted through a combination of depth and overview studies. We also embed key substantive concepts like empire, Church, and revolution to help students build their understanding of the past. We aim to establish and revisit these key disciplinary and substantive concepts in different contexts and increasing complexity to allow students to develop and build their understanding of them. We aim to teach students to think critically, distinguish between fact and opinion, and form judgements based on evidence.

We encourage personal development through introducing and developing themes of citizenship, diversity and tolerance, emphasising moral and social events such as the Holocaust and the Civil Rights Movement. We aim to deliver the school’s CHRIST values and encourage students to reflect on where they are prominent in lessons. We encourage students to see themselves as citizens of the world, understanding not just how others have made a difference, but how they themselves can make a difference in their society and in the world.

Curriculum Documents

Click Here to view the History Curriculum Map

Click Here to view the History Learning Journey

Teaching and Learning

In History and Politics, we deliver an ambitious, inclusive curriculum that ensures all students access the full breadth of content. Our teaching vision focuses on high expectations and embedding the 3Rs: Ready, Respectful, Responsible. Lessons follow the school’s Blue Coat approach; explaining and modeling, do and practice, and using the 4forAll Toolkit: key words/reading, time management, chunking/checking, questioning, and providing appropriate verbal, written and visual feedback. Reading is a key strategy, with staff using “Jump In,” the “3-Second Rule,” and “Echo Reading” techniques to support learning.

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Reading Resources

KS3

Catherine, Called Birdy – Karen Cushman
The Coram Boy – Jamila Gavin
Chains – Laura Halse Anderson
Hetty Feather – Jaqueline Wilson
The Ruby in the Smoke – Phillip Pullman
Warhorse – Michael Morpurgo
Private Peaceful – Michael Morpurgo
When Hitler stole pink rabbit – Judith Kerr
The Book Thief – Markus Zusak
The Diary of Anne Frank
A Young People’s History of the United States – Howard Zinn adapted by Rebecca Stefoff
Things a Bright Girl can do – Sally Nichols