History at St John’s

At St. John’s we broadly follow an enriched version of the National Curriculum in History from Year 1 to Year 8. History is an integral element in the Pre-prep curriculum and is taught as a separate subject in the curriculum from Year 3 onwards. In KS1 and the Juniors History is taught by class teachers but from Year 5 it is taught by specialists. We aim to make the subject both challenging and enjoyable. History as a subject lends itself particularly well to independent learning through a variety of learning styles. Pupils can expect to be fully engaged in individual and group investigations, role play exercises, debate and discussion from an early age. We also endeavour to ensure that assignments include a range of exercises, including the extensive use of ICT resources, as well as the more conventional written essays and source questions which are examinable by senior school examinations. The Department has an excellent record of success in these examinations, especially in the taxing Merchant Taylors' papers.

In our teaching we aim to develop a sound introductory knowledge of key episodes and events in the history of Great Britain, Europe and the wider world leading to an understanding of how the past influences the present and hopefully stimulate a lifelong enthusiasm for the study of the past. History, as a subject, develops communication skills, especially listening, extended narrative writing and debate and our work with a variety of historical sources also develops skills in the use, analysis, interpretation and evaluation of data.

In their time at St. John's pupils can expect to cover:

• KS1 A variety of topics including toys and the Victorians
• Lower KS2 (Years 3&4) Ancient Egyptians, Ancient Greeks, Invaders and Settlers
• Year 5 Tudor and Stuart Britain
• Year 6 The Victorians and Britain Since 1930
• Year 7 The Medieval Realms-Norman Conquest; The Church, Feudal System; Black Death; Peasants Revolt; Castles and Warfare.
• Year 8 Britain 1500-1900 & Preparation for Sources Papers of Senior Schools The reigns of the Tudor Monarchs, Break with Rome, Causes and consequences of the British Civil Wars, Trade and Empire.

As well as classroom based work, the department tries to organise day trips to relevant places of interest, for example St Alban’s and Hampton Court in KS1 and Gunnersbury and Verulamium in KS2. In Year 6 the Activities Week trip to Northumbria has an historical focus with visits to the Beamish Open Air Museum, Eden Camp and several medieval castles whilst the Year 7 Normandy trip in the same week features a day in “medieval” Rouen as well as visits to the underground caves at Arras and Canadian War Memorial at Vimy Ridge where pupils can get a taste of the conditions on the Western Front in World War One.

Mr J. Gurton
Head of History

Download:
Yr5 and Yr6 History curriculum information
Yr7 and Yr8 History curriculum information