The KS3 curriculum follows a broadly chronological structure. The course begins by looking at the nature of History and briefly examining the contribution made to British culture by the Celts, Romans, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings in Sleaford, before moving on to look at British and World History from the Middle Ages to the Twenty First Century. The course aims to provide students with both a broad and increasingly detailed knowledge and understanding of the most important events that have shaped our world.

Year 7: c.1066 – 1600: Power, Belief and Society

The Year 7 course examines life before and during the Middle Ages. Students complete units on Britain before the 11th century, the Norman Conquest of 1066, everyday life in Medieval England, and the development of power and belief during the Middle Ages between 1066 and 1600.

Year 8: c.1600 – 1850: An Age of Revolution?

The main historical theme in Year 8 is focused around the concept of revolution. Having already considered the nature of the English Reformation in Year 7, Terms 1 and 2 of Year 8 are spent studying the lives and reigns of England’s later Tudor and early Stuart monarchs. Students spend term 3 studying the causes, course and consequences of the English Revolutions of the seventeenth century. This is then contrasted with a study of the impact of revolution in eighteenth century France in Term 4. The final part of the year is spent studying the social, political and economic impact of the Industrial Revolution on Britain.

Year 9: 1850 – 2001: Conflict and Cooperation

In their final year of compulsory History education, students consider the making of the twentieth century and the development of modern British society in a global context. Students study the History of the British Empire and the causes and consequences of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. Two extensive units examine the World Wars with a focus on understanding the causes and consequences of these major conflicts. In the final term of the year students examine the Cold War and development of issues that have shaped modern Britain.

The History Department currently offers GCSE OCR Specification B (Schools History Project) to our students at Key Stage 4.

The Schools History Project course consists of 5 separate modules. The Study in Depth on Germany 1919 – 1945, The Crime and Punishment through time unit, and students complete additional modules about the Norman Conquest, Roman Lincoln and the United States of America.

The GCSE History exam consists of 3 papers. The papers test a mixture of interpretation, essay-writing, factual recall and source analysis skills.

The History Department currently offers the AQA GCE History specification (7042) which focuses on British, Russian and American history. In Years 12 and 13 students cover a British History unit entitled Stuart Britain and the Crisis of Monarchy, 1603-1702. This is examined by a mixture of essay questions and interpretations questions and looks at the way Britain developed during this very important period in our history. The European History unit examines Russia in the twentieth century and is titled Revolution and Dictatorship: Russia 1917 – 1953. This unit covers Russia under the Tsars, the 1917 Revolutions and the development of the Communist state under Lenin and Stalin. This is examined by a mixture of essay questions and source questions. Each unit is assessed by examination at the end of Year 13.

In Year 13 students also examine Civil Rights in the USA 1865 – 1992 .This is a coursework based unit looking at the development of this key theme in modern US history.