History
“Study the past if you would define the future”
Confucius
Here at Verulam, we seek to offer a lively and engaging History curriculum that provides our students with a map with which to navigate and understand the past and the foundations of the society in which they live. This is achieved by studying a range of periods from the ancient past to events which continue to shape the twenty first century. Throughout each study, rigour is established through development of core study skills such as interpretation, causation and significance. Our aim is to ensure that students think critically about any information they are given and foster a rich understanding of their cultural heritage.
Students at Verulam explore the defining concepts of the past such as empire, democracy, revolution and revolt. Through this they develop an appreciation for not only the evolution of the nation they live in but of other cultures and how they have enriched or challenged Britain and the wider world. Studies in lesson are supported by an extra-curricular club and an increasing range of enriching trips.
Key Stage 3
This course introduces the skills needed by a historian to investigate and analyse the past. These are fostered through the study of a range of time periods and different societies to provide a greater awareness of national and global society and culture. This provides them with the foundational skills required for study at GCSE, both in History and other subjects. Students learn to structure a developed and detailed argument based on analysis of evidence in order to present a reasoned conclusion. We also develop students’ ability to analyse different sources of evidence and evaluate the interpretations of established historians.
Where can History take you?
The skills acquired through the study of History, at any level, are invaluable for an array of career paths. Those listed below show just a few which have a direct and indirect relation to the subject.
Careers directly related include:
- Heritage manager
- Historic buildings inspector or conservation officer
- Museum education officer
- Museum or gallery curator
- Museum or gallery exhibitions officer
- Teaching
Careers where the qualification would be useful:
- Editorial assistant
- Information officer
- Politician’s assistant
- Law
- Management consultancies
- Publishing companies
- Television and radio broadcasters.
How parents can support their child’s learning?
Parents can discuss with the students how they plan to manage their time for the home learning tasks. We strongly encourage students to gain background research from books rather than the internet as it is often age-inappropriate for students. The school library is well stocked and the librarians are more than willing to help students find their way to useful books, although encouraging students to use local libraries and books at home would also support us in this. Visiting historical sites and encouraging discussion about the topics studied in class is also useful.
Useful Links
timelines.tv
BBC Education
schoolhistory.co.uk
History On The Net
JohnDClare History Revision
Spartacus Educational
