History

Humanities Department Intent

The Humanities Department at Lathom aims to develop students’ understanding of, and curiosity about, the world around them. The curriculum is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills and vocabulary to investigate, analyse and interpret the modern world. Through their study of Geography, History, Religion and World Views and Citizenship students will learn about how our globalized world has been shaped and is continually changing. They will have the opportunity to explore enquiry questions, think critically and communicate effectively.

History Intent

“Study the past if you would define the future.” – Confucius

“We are not makers of history, we are made by history” – Martin Luther King Jr. American Civil Rights Activist 1929-1968

History is the study of people and the world they lived in. The study of History allows students to develop an understanding of the complexity and diversity of human experience to help them make sense of the wider world they live in. Students will explore the process and challenges of change, the relationships between groups of people and how evidence can be found in a range of forms; and through this come to a more informed understanding of the word around us. Students need to engage with a range of topics from within British and world history that equip them with the character and culture they need to cope and thrive in life after Lathom.

The History Curriculum is underpinned by the following core principles:

The curriculum offered to students will be accessible to all and provide all students with opportunities to be challenged, to think hard and to extend their learning
Students should be equipped with the necessary analytical and evaluative skills to succeed in the modern world, therefore they should learn to question the provenance of evidence, opinions and interpretations, and learn to evaluate what these show them about different topics from different historical periods
Students should be given access to a wide-ranging curriculum that covers significant elements in the history of Britain, Europe and the wider world. This will support prior learning at KS2 and provide them with a platform for further study at KS4
Students will be taught about key historical concepts such as causation, significance, and change and continuity across a range of topics allowing them to build on their understanding across KS3
Students will develop their vocabulary, reading and communication skills by practising the use of substantive concepts within the subject, such as parliament, democracy, empire and revolution

Key Stage 3

Students at KS3 receive four lessons a fortnight, and homework that is set is appropriate to support the learning that takes place in the classroom.

Progress of students is monitored regularly through class and homework, and there are assessments completed at an appropriate stage in each unit of work.

Key Stage 4

Students can opt to study GCSE History. Students will follow Edexcel History, with four units which will be examined at the end of Year 11.

Currently the units studied are: Anglo-Saxon & Norman England, c.1060-1087; Crime & Punishment through time; Weimar & Nazi Germany 1920-1939 and Superpower Relations 1940 -1990.

How to Support your Child’s Learning

You can support your child with their homework, and by asking questions about what they are studying in school. There are often historical documentaries, films and TV series which you could watch together and, in the case of film and TV series think about how much of the content is factual.

You could also listen to podcasts – there are an increasing number dedicated to History.

Where to visit locally

There are lots of opportunities in the local area to support your child’s historical understanding through visits to museums and places of interest.

International Slavery Museum, Liverpool
Learn about the stories of enslaved peoples, and the history of slavery around the world both in the past and contemporary slavery
Imperial War Museum North at Salford Quays
Learn about the impact of modern warfare, from WW1 to the current time, on people and societies
People’s History Museum in Manchester
The National Museum of Democracy: the exhibitions in this museum will help you to find out all about the history of working people and the ideas people have fought for
Manchester Jewish Museum
Find out about the history of the Jewish Community in Manchester, including experiences of the Holocaust
Rufford Old Hall, Ormskirk
A property that was originally built around 1530 by the Hesketh family, with 17th Century and 19th Century additions
Quarry Bank Mill, Cheshire
An industrial heritage site that includes a huge cotton mill that was part of Britain’s Industrial Revolution. You can see what the working machinery would have been like and visit the Apprentices House to see the living conditions of children working in a cotton mill
Little Moreton Hall, Cheshire
A fantastic example of a Tudor Manor House, with its own moat
National Football Museum, Manchester
England’s national museum of football, with exhibits about the history of the beautiful game and a Hall of Fame
Erddig, Wrexham
An ‘Upstairs, Downstairs’ House with information on both the family that lived in the house and the servants that worked for them

What to watch

There are lots of opportunities to find out more about all of the topics we cover in school in documentaries on TV:

History Channel
Horrible Histories
Historical documentaries on TV
Netflix History 101
Ted Ed videos

There are a huge number of historical films available. Here are a few enjoyed recently by our teachers:

Elizabeth, The Golden Age – A fictionalised biographical film about Elizabeth I’s reign
1917 – Set in the trenches of WW1 this film follows two British soldiers as they try to deliver a message.
Dunkirk – A film re-telling the story of the evacuation of British soldiers from Dunkirk in WW2
Darkest Hour – A film that covers Churchill and his early role as Prime Minister in WW2
Hidden Figures – A biographical film about three African-American women who played an important role in the early days of NASA

What to listen to

Home school History podcast
You’re Dead to Me podcast
BBC History Extra podcasts

What to read

Horrible Histories – a range of books that covers History from the Romans to the modern world
BBC History Magazine
A Time Traveller’s Guide to Medieval England by Ian Mortimer
The Norman Conquest by Marc Morris
Black Tudors by Miranda Kauffman
A Time Traveller’s Guide to Elizabethan England by Ian Mortimer
Liberty’s Dawn by Emma Griffin
The Five by Hallie Rubenhold
Black & British by David Olosuga
Traveller’s in the Third Reich by Julia Boyd