Vision of the History Curriculum

The subject is important because it initiates the pupils epistemological curiosity and help them to comprehend both what the world once was and also what it is today. “It is clear that if children understand the past, they will be better prepared for the future.” Our curriculum is essentially a triumvirate of local, national and world history and covers a period of approximately 1,000 years. It is our intention for the curriculum to be cohesive and representative in scope and breadth.

History Curriculum Intent

Why is History important? The subject is important because it initiates the pupils epistemological curiosity and help them to comprehend both what the world once was and also what it is today. “It is clear that if children understand the past, they will be better prepared for the future.”
What is History's value within the curriculum and in everyday life? Our curriculum is essentially a triumvirate of local, national and world history and covers a period of approximately 1,000 years. It is our intention for the curriculum to becohesive and representative in scope  and breadth . 
How does History reinforce the Alsop values of Knowledge Respect and Opportunity? The history curriculum is broad, diverse and balanced. It is imbued with core and hinterland knowledge with the purpose to empower our students to take them to ‘another world’ and allow them to access opportunities that may arise for them in the future. Becoming knowledgeable and respectable are key features of social mobility.
How does History build on the foundations laid at KS2? At key stage 3 we ‘pick up the baton’ and continue the story. The pupils will have conceptual, substantive (factual) and disciplinary (skills) knowledge of ancient history. KS2 units of study usually involve Egyptians, Romans, Anglo-Saxons and Viking studies. At Alsop the students in year 7 quickly move onto the Norman Conquest which chronologically links with the national curriculum.
How does History support reading? Every lesson contains challenging texts which support the whole school policy of disciplinary literacy. 
How does History challenge all learners? Through a series of big questions students are challenged every lesson to think, to make conceptual connections, to build schemata, and to become confident with extended writing. 
How is History inclusive for all learners? Scaffolding and modelling are used regularly as we ‘teach to the top’ to ensure that alllearners can access the rigorous, ambitious curriculum. Key vocabulary is explicitly taught before engaging in reading and  high standards of work is expected of every student.
What role does assessment play in History? With a key focus on cognitive science and the Ebbinghaus ‘forgetting curve’ the students are expected to retrieve key knowledge regularly to ensure that knowledge isembedded into their long term memory.  Regular retrieval, exit tickets and knowledge organiser tests are used as a foundational base to allow the students to write critically and extensively.
How are British values interwoven into the History curriculum? Key concepts like respect are key features of the Alsop ethos but concepts like tolerance, democracy etc. are regularly visited throughout the curriculum to ensure that our students become well rounded, respectful, knowledgeable citizens.
How is SMSC interwoven into the History curriculum? We ensure that the Alsop curriculum is constantly reviewed so that we can shine a spotlight on diversity and offer up a curriculum that represents the modern day. Threads of local, national, international history are imbued with regular stories of black history, LGBT and women’s history. This safeguards the curriculum from becoming ‘pale, male and stale.’
How is cultural capital interwoven into the History curriculum? The History curriculum offers the students to engage in conversations and see the world from a number of perspectives. With an analogy of ‘windows and mirrors’ we ask the students to look at their own perspectives, respect others and to see the world with an open mind.

Facilities

The faculty has four classrooms, one of which is an ICT suite. All classrooms have interactive whiteboards. The Faculty are developing interest in e-learning through the use of ICT.