History at NOA
The History department at North Oxfordshire Academy believe that the study of History is vital as it inspires knowledgeable and independent reflection, develops high-level literacy and promotes human understanding and sympathy.
Throughout the curriculum, pupils are encouraged to articulate their own ideas about the past confidently and persuasively. All pupils are supported so that they can write fluent, organised and increasingly mature analytical responses.
At KS3, we offer an exciting curriculum that focuses on the development of core concepts that have shaped the world, and environment we live in. We look at the development of the Church, state and society through the Middle Ages to the current day to consider how power, society, and culture change depending on when and where you are living; this includes the often overlooked past in Asia and Africa. We also look at the interactions between societies through time, and how this caused both conflict and developments to their lands. By understanding this, students appreciate the world and town they live in. We teach chronologically through KS3, so students can pause to evaluate and analyse how these concepts have and are changing through the topics they are being taught.
When opting to choose History at GCSE, students utilise skills and knowledge gained at KS3 and apply them in new domains. In Year 10, we start by studying the development of medicine and its impact on people until the present day. This is accompanied by a Historic environment study of medicine on the battlefields during World War One. We then investigate what post-war Germany looked like under the Weimar Republic, and how Hitler came to power, and then consolidated his power. At the end of Year 10 we move on to look at our period depth study of the Superpower relations during the Cold War, looking at the incidents between the USA and the Soviet Union and the consequences of these events on the wider world. We finish our GCSE course by looking at our British depth study of Elizabeth I’s reign, looking at how she was able to stabilise her country and allow it to thrive.
The History A Level course provides an opportunity to build on these substantive concepts as we immerse our students into the Early Modern period and allowing students to critically analyse the important socio-economic, political and religious developments that were occurring at this time using the skills they have developed in the subject from year 7 to 11.
Our History curriculum is carefully designed for students to confidently and successfully build up the knowledge and skills that they need, not just for examinations, but for life beyond the classroom.