History Department Aims

• To help students develop their understanding of how events from the early Middle ages to the Twentieth Century have helped to shape the modern world.
• To encourage the acquisition of historical skills including: chronology, cause and consequence, historical enquiry and investigation, evaluation and interpretation of historical sources and the organisation and communication of information.
• To help students realise how fascinating History can be by developing the skills of discussion, empathy and independent thinking.   

In the History Department we teach imaginatively, enabling students to build upon their primary school work whilst foreshadowing the skills required for external GCSE and GCE examinations. We believe that History is a fascinating subject and we aim to create a positive learning environment where students are encouraged to develop a questioning approach. History is taught using a wide variety of methods including: AFL, group work, role-play, classroom lessons, ICT, videos, discussions, projects, CHATS and field trips. We make full use of the excellent resources that we have within the school. Our goal is to bring the past to life for our students by focusing on some of the most fascinating, gory and grisly periods in History.

Students will learn and build upon a wide range of skills including:

• Historical knowledge and understanding
• Chronology
• Cause and consequence
• Historical enquiry and investigation
• Evaluating historical sources
• Empathy and independent thinking

Students in Years 7, 8 and 9 follow a course designed to implement Key Stage 3 of the National Curriculum.

What will I be studying in History?

 

The course textbooks used in Year 7-9 are the 'Living Through History' series.

The curriculum is presented in thematic units:

Year 7

• Skills
• Roman Empire
• Medieval Realms

Year 8

• The Making of the United Kingdom
• Black Peoples of the Americas

Year 9

• Expansion Trade and Industry - Britain 1750-1900
• The Twentieth Century World

How will I be assessed? Assessment is continual and will be both formal and informal including: CHATS (Common History Assessment Tasks) which will be given levels according to National Curriculum Levels, end of unit tests, oral work, class work, projects and homework. This enables us to closely monitor each student's progress encouraging excellence and rewarding effort. Each student will build up an Assessment Profile and they will be asked to assess their own progress and to set themselves targets for the future. This will help them to identify their strengths and see a clear progression of their historical skills and understanding.

GCSE History

GCSE History will bring the past alive. It will encourage students to develop an enthusiasm for using evidence to discover what it was like to live earlier this century and to make comparisons with the present. The course explores cause and consequence, continuity and change, similarity and difference. The development of particular skills is important; how to find out information from first-hand or primary sources, and from other people's writings, how to spot bias, how to present what has been discovered in a logical way.

The course builds upon the history covered in Year 9. Some topics are covered in greater depth and allow for greater understanding. New topics are also covered.

Essentially the course covers The Modern World, 1914 to the present day. The Examinations Board and Specification are Edexcel - History A (1334)

Click on the link below for more details about content and requirements.

If you would like more information or have any questions please contact:

Mr. Andrew Tkaczuk
Head of Humanities / History
DES College
PO Box 125814
Dubai

                                                                              KS3 CURRICULUM
                                                                              GCSE CURRICULUM