History Department

History at Argoed High School is designed to give pupils an insight into the changes in life in England, Wales and the wider world for the people who lived there. We begin our studies in the year 1066 and work through British and world history until the end of the Second World War.

Teaching and learning is interactive and pupils are encouraged to develop their literacy, numeracy and thinking skills whilst developing a firm understanding of the past.

Lessons are taught by the Head of Faculty, Mrs Hanson and Mr Southgate. Classes are taught in tutor groups and therefore mixed ability. Year 7 and 9 classes receive three lessons per fortnight, Year 8 groups receive four lessons per fortnight and GCSE classes receive five lessons per fortnight.

KS3 – Course Content

Year 7

This year starts by looking at medieval history starting with the Norman Conquest and you will even have the chance to re-enact the Battle of Hastings! You then move onto the changes of castles and life in medieval towns and villages. Here we explore topics such as the Black Death and the Peasant’s Revolt. We finish the year by studying Henry VIII and whether he was a good King. It turns out that the Tudors were a very violent family!

Year 8

This year starts by looking at the rest of the Tudor royal family and the religious changes they made in England and Wales. Pupils will then move on to study the causes of the English Civil War, as well as Oliver Cromwell and how he became Lord Protector. You will reach Charles II’s reign and you will learn about the dreadful things that he had to deal with, such as the Plague and the Great Fire of London. You then study the Industrial Revolution and this will include interesting tasks, including a presentation about the Greatest Industrial Scientist. You will finish your studies this year by looking at the topic of slavery and the conditions that slaves were brutally forced to live in. This emotive and shocking topic still sees ramifications on the world we live in today.

Year 9

This year you will learn a lot and you will be picking your GCSE options. Firstly, you will look at the topic – protest and you will look at different forms of protest and why different groups protested. In this unit we look at a wide variety of protests including the American Civil Rights Protest. You will investigate how the Civil Rights movement has influenced the word we live in today. You will then explore World War One and World War Two. You will look at the causes of World War One, the horrific conditions that soldiers had to live in and how war left life on the Home Front after the war. You will also look at the rise of Adolf Hitler, how the Nazi’s affected life for the German people and the horrific events of the Holocaust. This year is packed full of skill-based tasks to prepare you for your GCSE studies.

KS4 – Course Content

Year 10

Non-Examination Assessment: 20%
You will start Year 10 off by completing two pieces of written work on topics chosen by your teacher. As the title suggests, there is no exam for this unit.

Germany in Transition: 25% examination
You will then move on to studying Nazi Germany. You will learn about how the Nazis came to power and how life in Germany changed for people such as Jews, women and the youth. This is particularly interesting as you get to see how people reacted to the Nazi Party at the time. This course is supported by a very popular trip to Poland, where you will see the destruction caused by the Nazi Party first hand, particularly the devastating impact it had on European Jews.

Year 11

Depression, War and Recoveryt: 25% examination
This topic three main elements: the Depression Years in Wales and England 1930-1939, including the build up to WWII; Life during WWII on the Home Front; and political, social and economic developments that took place in Great Britain up until 1951. This topic is extremely interesting and useful for anyone interesting in learning about how Great Britain has become the country we live in today.

Crime, Punishment and Policing: 30% examination
This topic area looks closely at three main elements: how causes of crime and crime itself has changed since the medieval period; how policing has improved since the medieval period; and how methods of punishing offenders has changed since the medieval period. This topic, although brutal and bloody at times, gives a great insight into how attitudes towards crime, punishment and policing has changes over the past 500 years!

Useful resources and revision links

The following web sites offer some really interesting and helpful information that may help you with class-work, homework and revision!

Extra-curricular

In Year 7, you will go to Beaumaris and enjoy a tour around the incredible Beaumaris castle!

In Year 8, you will have the opportunity to travel to Normandy in France! The History and French Departments have teamed up to offer a four day trip to enhance your learning outside the classroom!

If you opt to study GCSE History, you will have the opportunity to travel to Poland to learn first-hand about the horrors of WWII and the Holocaust.