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Wixams Academy

The Knowledge Schools Trust

We aim to provide children with a classical liberal education, regardless of background or ability.

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History 

History Curriculum Intent

The Wixams History Curriculum strives to ignite a passion for understanding the past through rigorous inquiry that unlocks Powerful Knowledge. Students develop a coherent sense of chronology, connecting local, national and global histories to their own experiences. We emphasize critical thinking by encouraging learners to evaluate diverse sources, construct rigorious arguments and developing disciplinary knowledge to reveal the powerful processes of historical thinking. Through short enquiries —from medieval societies to modern rights movements—students build disciplinary skills to explore continuity and change across time, as well as causation and consequence, similarity and difference, historical interpretation and evidentual thinking.

We integrate British history alongside world events to foster informed and responsible citizenship that cultivates empathy and respect for different cultures and communities, and represents the diverse backgrounds of our students. Regular opportunities for debate, group projects and reflection deepen engagement and develop collaborative skills.

Ultimately, we aim to nurture independent learners who are resilient, curious and inspired to use their historical thinking skillsin their everyday life. Thereofre, History at Wixams is not only about the past but a dynamic lens for understanding and shaping our shared future. Our History curriculum continuously evolves in response to historical scholarship and student voice, ensuring relevance and inspiration remain at its core.

Curriculum Implementation – Curriculum Map

 

 

Autumn 1

Autumn 2

Spring 1

Spring 2

Summer 1

Summer 2

Year 7

The Romans, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings

 

The Wider Medieval World

 

The Norman Conquest

Medieval Life

 

Medieval Kings

 

 

Medieval Mali

 

The Crusades

 

The Black Death in Europe

 

 

The Renaissance

 

The Aztecs

 

Henry VIII and the Break With Rome

 

The Mid Tudor Crisis

The Elizabethan Golden Age

Year 8

The Early Stuarts (James I and Charles I)

 

The English Civil War

John Bunyan’s Lifetime: England, c1625-89

 

The Glorious Revolution

The Industrial Revolution

 

 

Empire and the Slave Trade

 

Reforms by c1900

The Causes of the FWW

The FWW: fighting on the Western Front, the Home Front, soldiers of Empire and remembrance.

Year 9

The Russian Revolution

 

The Rise of Hitler

Causes of the Second World War

 

Importance of 1940

The Blitz

 

SWW controversies: Dresden, Churchill’s leadership, the Atomic Bomb

The Holocaust

 

The 1945 Labour Government

 

The Swinging 60s

The US Civil Rights Movement

 

Immigration to Britain since 1945

The 70s

 

Margaret Thatcher

 

Changes from 1901: focus on women in Britain

Year 10

Medicine In Britain: Medieval and Renaissance

Medicine in Britain: Industrial and Modern

Medicine in Britain: Medicine on the Western Front

Weimar and Nazi Germany: Weimar Germany

Weimar and Nazi Germany: The Rise of Hitler and the Nazis

Weimar and Nazi Germany: Life in Germany

Year 11

The Cold War: Origins and Crises

The Cold War: Crises and End

The Anglo-Saxons and Normans: AS England and 1066

The Anglo-Saxons and Normans: The Conquest

 

Revision

 

Year 12

Tudors: Henry VII

 

Russia: 1917

Tudors: Henry VII

 

Russia: Bolshevik consolidation of power

 Tudors: Henry VIII

 

Russia: The Russian Civil War

 Tudors: Henry VIII

 

Russia: The NEP and Leadership contest

 Tudors: Henry VIII

 

Russia: The Great Turn and collectivisation

Tudors: Henry VIII and Edward VI

 

Russia: the Five Year Plans

Year 13

Tudors: Edward VI and Mary

 

Russia: Soviet economy and society

Tudors: Elizabeth

 

Russia: Russian foreign policy and the cult of leadership

Tudors: Elizabeth

 

Russia: The Great Patriotic War

Tudors Elizabeth

 

Russia: High Stalinism

Revision

 

Texts and Exam Boards

 

Year 7- 9

Year 10-11

Year 12-13

Core texts

Knowing History books 1-4

Exam board

Edexcel

 

Core texts

Weimar & Nazi Germany

Medicine in Britain

Anglo-Saxon & Norman England

International Relations and the Cold War

 

Exam board

AQA

 

Core texts

Russia in Revolution

Tudor England

 

Useful resources

BBC Bitesize KS3 History

BBC History has a variety of articles

Our library is has a well-stocked History section

Various extended readings are available via the QR code on the front of all topic boolets

 

BBC Bitesize KS4 Edexcel

BBS History has a variety of articles

Our library has a well-stocked History selection

Various extended readings are available via the QR code on the front of all topic boolets

Our library has a well-stocked History selection

Various extended readings are available via the department website

 

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