History
The aim of our history curriculum is to develop knowledge and historical enquiry focused on social change and conflict. Curiosity to learn about the past is key to help students learn about how complex lives, societies and political decisions were in the past and how these may affect the future. Students analyse the power of individuals within societies, including meeting positive historical role models. It is a broad curriculum that extends beyond the traditional history textbook to deepen cultural awareness and challenge stereotypes. We use conceptual thinking (repeat concepts) to probe students to think harder and reach sustained arguments and judgements.
History is a subject that gives students both historical knowledge and a skill set enabling them to make judgements based on analysis of evidence. The history curriculum at Hayle Academy provides students with the tools to understand and make sense of their local history, British history and global history. It is a subject that enhances extended writing skills and the ability to create sustained arguments – a valued skill in a variety of career paths. The high density of tier 2 vocabulary in the curriculum, of which much of it is abstract, supports progress in literacy particularly. This is essential as students at Hayle begin year 7 with lower than average reading ages. Students are respectful and tolerant of others viewpoints, whilst developing a strong sense of right and wrong using historical knowledge and evidence.
The aim of our history curriculum is to deliver knowledge, focused on social change and conflict, with strong links to Global Values. Students meet positive female role models and their awareness of different cultures is extended. This is because Hayle has a higher than average proportion of disadvantaged students). Repeat concepts are interleaved to show how social change has evolved over time. Our repeat concepts are:
- Religious influence
- Importance of the individual
- Cultural diversity
- Conflict and tension
- Technology
- Political power
- Social welfare
- My own opinion
Our broad, topic based curriculum helps our students contextualise GCSE content and make sense of the history that has shaped their current life today. Schemes of learning are both topic based, e.g. Tudors and the issue of religion and thematic, e.g. Medicine Over Time.
Students will acquire a broad knowledge and skills set when studying history. Their curiosity to learn about the past will help them learn about how complex lives, societies and political decisions are and have been. Students will leave Hayle Academy with a strong sense of the events that have shaped their country and are encouraged to develop their own opinions towards past events and decisions. These are skills highly sought after in careers such as law and politics, as well as new and expanding industries such as Fintech. It also prepares them for the variety of post 16 options in history, including A-Level history, Medieval history and Modern history taught at local colleges.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead