Curriculum Intent
History allows students to understand Britain and the world today through examining our collective past. We want to equip students with the ability to think critically and enquire about information presented to them. Students will develop the skills and knowledge to some of the big issues that have affected people’s lives throughout history and how some of these issues still affect us today. They will learn how to weigh up and interrogate evidence and make reasoned arguments. In addition, students will gain an understanding of the importance of democracy, tolerance and human rights and our responsibilities as citizens. Our history course offers students the opportunity to study history from a number of different perspectives offering a more diverse understanding of our past.
Curriculum Features
Our curriculum covers the history national curriculum and is designed to help students see how Britain has developed over the past millennium. We will explore pivotal moments in British history such as the Battle of Hastings and Industrial Revolution and examine how they changed people’s lives. We will also look at the role of Britain in the wider world, including the British Empire and Britain’s role in the World Wars.
We also will give students the opportunities to study non-British history to broaden their understanding of the past and the world today. They will examine challenging and controversial issues such as the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, the Reformation, C20th dictatorships and the Holocaust. Where appropriate, issues and events will be studied from different historical perspectives to give them a broad understanding of how history is shaped and how history has affected different people in different ways.
Throughout key stage 3 and key stage 4, students will learn and develop the concepts and skills that will allow them to achieve success at GCSE history.
Co-Curriculum Enrichment
History supports a range of other subjects studied including English, Geography and RE. The writing skills, ability to make inferences and use evidence and also to make supported judgements learned in history will help students develop their writing and critical thinking and will contribute to any further study students may take.
History Overview
Year 7
- Introduction to history – How has immigration shaped the UK?
- Why did England change in 1066?
- What can we learn about life in Medieval England from the Black Death?
- How does England compare with other places in the Medieval Period?
- Why are the Tudors significant?
Year 8
- England during the Renaissance
- Why are the Tudors significant?
- How did the Industrial Revolution change work?
- Why were industrial towns such awful places to live?
- Why is the British Empire so controversial?
- How could Britain have been involved in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade?
Year 9
- What caused the outbreak of WW1 in 1914?
- How significant is WW1?
- Was 1920s USA a time of opportunity for all?
- What was it like to live in Nazi Germany?
- The Second World War.
- How could the Holocaust have happened?
At GCSE, students the study the Edexcel specification, which has a combination of British and wider world history and explores a range of periods from the last one thousand years. Students will develop a range of transferable skills from the study of GCSE, including how to support arguments with evidence and how to test the accuracy of evidence given to them whilst offering ways students can interpret their modern world.
The course is 100% final written examination, with no coursework.
- Paper 1:
Thematic study and historic environment: Medicine in Britain, c1250–present
The British sector of the Western Front, 1914–18: injuries, treatment and the trenches.
- Paper 2:
Period study on The American West, c1835–c1895
British depth study on Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060–88.
- Paper 3:
Modern depth study: The USA, 1954–75: conflict at home and abroad.
Curriculum Intent
Geography is the world around us and everything that is in it. It is more vital than ever for our pupils to understand this in order to become the global citizens they need to become.
At Werneth the Geography department aims to ensure that our pupils get a thorough and rigorous view of the world around them. The curriculum aims to build up both skills and knowledge to our young people in relation to the UK and the wider world; with an even spread of human and physical Geography intertwined. We want our students to see the inherent links within Geography and from Geography to the rest of their education. Our teaching will allow pupils to foster a greater independence in their work with collaborative approaches and pupil engagement at the forefront of teaching. The pupils need to know their place in the world and where they will go in it.
Curriculum Features
The national curriculum is covered at KS3 with modern forward- thinking topics including ‘Russia and the poles’, ‘Economics’ and ‘Extreme environments’ amongst others.
The GCSE is ‘OCR: A Geographical themes’ which is a thematic approach to Geography using ‘scale’ to change between how issues impact and work within the UK as well as the wider world.
Throughout Key Stage Three and Four, the curriculum develops and builds on the knowledge and skills that the students will need for their GCSE.
We are aiming to offer a field trip in every year group.
In Years 7, 8 and 9 students complete a formative assessment throughout each unit and a summative one at the end of each unit. Assessments are used to monitor progress and interventions but also used to help students retain key knowledge. End of year exams are set in all three of the year groups.
In Key Stage Four each unit will have at least one, sometimes two summative assessments and an end of unit assessment. Year 10 and 11 will have end of year assessment and full paper mock exams.
The curriculum aims to encourage creativity and develop enjoyment and engagement with the subject. We wish to create an atmosphere where students can enjoy the study of Geography. The use of collaboration and teamwork is strongly encouraged within Geography.
Co-curriculum Enrichment
- Maths - Use of graphs, averages and percentages through Geographical data
- Science - Some content e.g. Energy types, habitats, climate change and more.
- English - Use of literacy focused lessons in Y7 and 8 as well as extended writing
- History/RE - Exam technique for longer questions
Geography Overview
Geography is an exciting subject that will broaden your horizon, increase your awareness of the world around you and open your eyes to the wonders of the planet you live on. Geography encourages you to think deeply and to ask questions. Geography is about more than just seeing mesmerising places around the world. It is about understanding the complexity of our planet and appreciating the diversity of cultures that exist across its continents.
Who is it suitable for?
Geography suits hard workers who are ready to push themselves and learn new skills. Geography is closely linked to many subjects, in particular: Maths, English, and Science. To be a successful Geographer you will need excellent writing and numerical skills. You will also need great enthusiasm to explore the world around you and be somebody who strives to improve even if they find something difficult.
Where will it take you?
Geography is a diverse and very much academic discipline. It will help you go on to study many subjects at A Level. Geographical qualifications can be used not just in geographical fields but also in business, civil service, military, police, and other occupations that require analytical skills. Geographers are valuable as they have the ability to analyse the modern world as well as predicting patterns of change. A Geographer can adapt to a variety of situations, which makes it a very employable and useful subject.
What do you study?
Year 7
- Geography of the UK
- Extreme environments across our world
- Settlements and how they shape where we live
- Kenya and its incredible landscapes
- Weather and climate and how we measure it
- Asia and all is has to offer
Year 8
- Climate change and how our planet is adapting
- The wonders of India
- Our dangerous world including volcanoes and glaciers
- Rivers, coasts and oceans
- Globalisation and development around the world
- Europe and how it is changing
Year 9
- Geology and earthquakes
- What an economy is and a focus on Nigeria
- Russia and the north pole
- Resources and fuels for the future
- Australia’s natural wonders
- The magic of the Middle East
Year 10
- The UK in terms of physical landscapes
- The UK and the environmental challenges it faces
- People of the UK and where they live
- Human fieldwork in Salford quays
- Ecosystems of the planet and how they are so brittle
Year 11
- Physical fieldwork in nearby river systems
- People of the planet and how their situations are different to ours
- Mocks
- Environmental threats to our planetary system
- Walking talking exams and skill practice
- Revision
The GCSE exams
Paper 1 - Living in the UK today
- UK landscapes
- People of the UK
- UK environmental challenges
30% - 1 Hour - 60 marks
Paper 2 - The world around us
- Ecosystems of the planet
- People of the planet
- Environmental threats to our planet
30% - 1 Hour - 60 marks
Paper 3 - Geographical skills
- Geographical fieldwork – the two compulsory trips
- Unseen problems using Geographical skills
40% - 1.5 Hours - 80 marks
Curriculum Intent
Students will develop knowledge and understanding into a variety of religious and non- religious worldviews. Beliefs and Ethics is centred around respect and inclusion. Beliefs and Ethics develops a better understanding of the views that shape our modern world, as well as exploring how our history shaped these beliefs. We live in a diverse society and students should be able to explore life’s “big questions” whilst having an understanding that there are a varied range of views within Great Britain.
Curriculum Features
At Key Stage 3, students will cover the six major world religions, developing their knowledge of different beliefs and practices.
Students will be presented with opportunities to look at a variety of opinions and make comparisons between.
Students will also explore big questions enabling them to develop skills of evaluation.
During year 9 the course takes a more thematic approach looking at key religious figures from history and their impact on the world as well as exploring ethical issues.
Year 7
Topic 1 – Judaism: beliefs and practices
Topic 2 – Prejudice and discrimination
Topic 3 – Christianity: beliefs and practices
Year 8
Topic 1 – Exploring “big questions”
Topic 2 – Islam: beliefs and practices
Topic 3 – Buddhism: Beliefs and practices
Year 9
Topic 1 – Religious figures who changed the world
Topic 2 – Religious attitudes to animal rights
Topic 3 – Religious attitudes to war, peace and conflict
At Key Stage 4 students can choose whether to join the core programme or the GCSE group. The GCSE course follows AQA specification A, with a focus on Christianity and Islam.
If you do not opt to take Religious Studies as one of your options, you will follow
the non-GCSE Beliefs and Ethics pathway.
Religious Studies is a statutory requirement for all KS4 students and allows opportunities for students to empathise with others, as well as developing their own ideas on life issues. Students develop an awareness of real- world topics such as medical ethics, crime and punishment as well as religious attitudes towards drug use.
Co-curriculum Enrichment
History -
Study of WW1 and WW2 in history helps students with a better understanding when we cover the ethics of WMDs in year 9.
Crime and punishment in the 19th century in year 8 history links to ethical study of crime and punishment in year 10. Especially when looking at issues of prison reform.
In our “World changers'' topic in year 9 students study the impact of figures such as Martin Luther King JR. This is part of the history GCSE unit on civil rights.
English -
Students create speeches on figures such as Malala Yosafazai. This forms part of our “World changers” topic.
Science
Year 10 medical ethics topic has links with GCSE biology as we explore the ethics of genetic engineering, transplantation and cloning.
Geography
The GCSE RS course has a unit on the use and abuse of the environment. This links with topics such as sustainability, fossil fuels, population growth and climate change.