Richmond School
School Departments | History
Welcome to the Richmond School History Department.
In the History Department we seek to develop a genuine interest in a study of the past for all our students and an understanding of the relevance of past events to world and UK issues today. Our students are taught important transferable skills which are key for independent learning. We aim to provide an education which provides the best for every student, helping them to access the curriculum and reach their full potential.
All Year 7 students go on a site visit to Middleham Castle and GCSE students have the opportunity to visit the Thackray Medicine Museum in Leeds. In addition, the department runs a bi-annual visit for Sixth Form students to Russia, visiting the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg. The next visit departs at Easter 2009.
Key Stage 3
From Year 7 until Year 9, students at Richmond School have one History lesson per week. Following the National Curriculum, students study a wide range of historical issues and learn many historical skills such as using sources, understanding causation, considering different interpretations and developing a sense of chronology.
Students in Year 7 are given the opportunity to join and take part in the popular Year 7 History Club which meets once a week. Activities include learning about History topics not included in the syllabus, entering a castle building competition and going on extra trips.
In Year 7 History students learn about:
- The Roman Empire
- Medieval Realms 1066-1500
In Year 8 History students learn about:
- The Making of the United Kingdom – Britain 1500-1750
- Industrial Britain – 1750-1900
In Year 9 History students learn about:
- The Twentieth Century including World War One, World War Two and the Cold War.
- Black People of the Americas – from slavery to Martin Luther King.
Key Stage 4
Students have the opportunity to select History as an option for GCSE. In Year 10 and Year 11 students who opt for History have two History lessons per week. The school follows AQA History Syllabus A – Schools History Project. Students studying GCSE will benefit from innovative teaching. The course includes fieldwork in Richmond for the Local Study and a visit to the Thackray Museum in Leeds for the Medicine Through Time unit.
There are four main units, each with a different focus and approach. This ensures that the course is interesting and varied.
- Medicine Through Time
- Richmond Local Study – 1700-2000
- The Arab-Israeli Conflict
- Germany and Hitler – 1919-1945
Units 1 and 4 are assessed by examination and account for 75% of the final GCSE grade. Units 2 and 3 are assessed by one coursework assignment for each unit and accounts for 25% of the final GCSE grade.
A Level History
History develops important skills such as information handling, analysis and clear presentation of ideas, and it is vital for understanding the world we live in. It covers fundamental ideas such as causation and change that have wide application in life. History is also a crucial part of our national heritage as well as contributing to a balanced understanding of world politics. History helps you to understand the actions and attitudes of others. The subject opens the way for a wide variety of careers such as Law and Journalism. It is recognised as an excellent academic discipline by universities and employers alike.From 2008 History A Level will be examined by 4 units through the exam board EdExcel.
AS Year
AS Unit 1 – ‘Communism and Democracy in the 20 th Century’
- Russia in Revolution 1881-1924
- Stalin’s Russia 1924-1953
This unit looks at Russian History between 1881 and 1953 including the 1905 Revolution, the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, the rule of Lenin and the rule of Stalin. Students taking History will be given the opportunity to visit Russia on a trip to Moscow and St. Petersburg at Easter 2009.
Assessment is by one written exam
AS Unit 2 – ‘Early Modern British History: Crown and Authority’
- Henry VIII: Authority, Nation and Religion, 1509-1540
This unit looks at the reign of Henry VIII including the events of his break with the Roman Catholic Church and the impact of the Reformation.
Assessment is by one written exam.
A2 Year
A2 Unit 3 – ‘War and Peace: Twentieth Century International Relations’
- The World in Crisis, 1879-1941
This unit looks at international relations including the European Alliance System, the Treaty of Versailles, the role of the League of Nations and the causes of World War 2.
Assessment is by one written exam
A2 Unit 4 – ‘The USA: From Reconstruction to Civil Rights, 1877-1981’
This unit looks at the struggle for civil rights in America including the role of Martin Luther King within the civil rights movement.
Assessment is by one coursework essay.
Richmond School Sixth Form students on the Battleship Aurora in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Contact information
For further information please get in touch with one of the History teachers by telephone on 01748 850111 or by e-mail.
Mr P Jackson (Head of Department) – pjackson@richmondschool.net
Miss A Dakin (Assistant Head of Department) – adakin@richmondschool.net
Mr G Copland – gcopland@richmondschool.net
Mr T Grimwood – tgrimwood@richmondschool.net
Mrs S Mawer – smawer@richmondschool.net
Mrs V Walker – vwalker@richmondschool.net