History

“The History department at KRS aims for students to develop curiosity, imagination and love of the ‘otherness’ of the past. We strive to impose order and meaning, make connections and understand how ordinary people’s lives have shaped the world.”

Army-HQ-2015-Grahics-KRS-Cyprus-1097

Topics covered in the curriculum include historically important events such as the Norman invasion, The Crusades, The Black Death, Changing role of the Monarchy, the Industrial Revolution and the World Wars. Students will be expected to demonstrate their knowledge of topics through discussions and homework. Year 10 and 11 students will learn about Warfare over Time and the Cold War. Learn about the History curriculum in detail below: 

GCSE

Paper 1 Edexcel

Written examination: 1 hour and 15 minutes 

30%* of the qualification 

Students will learn:

 

  • Medicine Across Time 1250-Present
Homework: Independent reading
 

Paper 2 Edexcel

Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes 

40%* of the qualification 

64 marks (32 for the period study and 32 for the British depth study) 

Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060–88

 

  • Anglo-Saxon England and the Norman Conquest, 1060–66
  • William I in power: securing the kingdom, 1066–87
  • Norman England, 1066–88
Superpower relations and the Cold War, 1941–91

 

  • Key topic 1: The origins of the Cold War, 1941–58
  • Key topic 2: Cold War crises, 1958–70
  • Key topic 3: The end of the Cold War, 1970–91
 Homework: All homework  will consist of past exam questions
 How to help: Discussion of the topics above and sharing of any experiences that relate to this would be hugely beneficial.
Paper 3 Edexcel

 

Written examination: 1 hour and 20 minutes

30%* of the qualification

52 marks

  • Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918–39
  • The Weimar Republic 1918–29
  • Hitler’s rise to power, 1919–33
  • Nazi control and dictatorship, 1933–39
  • Life in Nazi Germany, 1933–39

A Level

Paper 1: Breadth study with interpretations   

 

30% A level  

2 hours and 15 minutes 

Students learn about the following areas

 

  • Students learn about the following areas 
    • Russia from 1917-1991 Lenin to Yeltsin 
Homework:  Independent reading
 
Paper 2: Depth study  

 

20% A Level 

1 hour 30 minutes 

 
Students learn about the following areas: 

 

  • Mao’s China 1949-1976 
Homework: Independent reading
 
Paper 3. Themes in depth with aspects in breadth 

 

30% of A level 

2 hours and 15 minutes 

Students learn about the following areas: Ireland and the Union 1774-1923 
Homework: Independent reading

Knowledge organisers

Year 7Year 8Year 9
MigrationChallenges to the Catholic ChurchChange
Religion in Medieval EnglandThe Slave TradeGetting the Vote
The Black DeathThe Industrial RevolutionConflict in the 20th century
The CrusadesChanging ideas 1660 – 1789The First World War
The Norman ConquestThe English Civil WarThe Holocaust
The problems of medieval monarchsThe British EmpireThe Middle East

Suggested reading list