History
Subject Leader: Mr James Murphy
james.murphy@queenkatherine.org
History at QKS
History is a disciplined process of inquiry into the past that develops students’ curiosity and imagination. 
Awareness of history is an essential characteristic of any society, and historical knowledge is fundamental to understanding ourselves and others. History promotes the understanding of societies, events, movements and developments that have shaped humanity from earliest times. It helps students appreciate how the world and its people have changed, as well as the significant continuities that exist to the present day. History, as a discipline, has its own methods and procedures which make it different from other ways of understanding human experience. The study of history is based upon evidence derived from remains of the past. It is interpretative by nature, promotes debate and encourages thinking about human values, including present and future challenges. The process of historical inquiry develops transferable skills such as the ability to ask relevant questions; critically analyse and interpret sources; consider context; respect and explain different perspectives; develop and substantiate interpretations, and communicate effectively.
Key Stage 3
By the end of Key Stage 3, QKS students will have explored a range of topics that look at both the heritage of Great Britain and other events that have shaped the world in which we live.
They will learn key historical skills that will allow them to help interpret the past and to understand a range of sources and materials which help explain history. They will look at history over time from the medieval period through to World War two. They will gain a clear understanding of the events that both shaped Britain and the wider world through topics such as the slave trade and the rise and fall of the British Empire. The key skills they learn will embed their understanding of chronology, causation, consequences and significance over time in history.
Key Stage 4
Students at QKS study a wide and varied series of topics at GCSE, starting with ‘Medicine through Time’ which investigates how medicine progresses from the medieval period right through to the late twentieth century.
It focusses on how issues such as plague were tackled through to vaccination and the birth of the NHS. This is then followed with students studying the political impact of the Cold War across the world and how communism came to fall in the USSR. Key turning points will include the Cuban missile crisis and the rise and fall of the Berlin wall. Students will also look at Elizabeth I, and look at the issues she faced with religion; social change across Europe; the New World; and how she overcame threats to the nation such as the Spanish Armada. Lastly, students will look at the rise and fall of Nazi Germany. These topics give students an understanding of how history over time has come to shape the present day. Students will also develop significant research and analytical skills which will prepare them for the next stage of their education.
