History/Wider World
History is the continuous study of people in societies, cultures and countries. Our aim in teaching History is that all students will develop an understanding that the society they live in has been shaped by developments in the past. Students at Ashley High School should understand that history is our record of what happened in the past and why.
Ashley High School students study History in Years 7 to 9 as part of our Wider World Curriculum. Throughout Key Stage 3, students learn about British, European and World History through themed units:
Year 7: The Normans – The Tudors
Year 8: Transatlantic Slave Trade – Health and Medicine
Year 9: WW2 – A Local History Study: Halton Through Time
KS4 students who study History, will follow AQA GCSE History. This qualification comprises of the following elements:
One period study (Germany 1890-1945)
One thematic study (Health and Medicine)
One wider world depth study (Conflict and Tension 1918-1939)
One British depth study including the historic environment (The Normans)
A variety of resources and teaching techniques are used to encourage students to engage in learning and to encourage students to become independent thinkers. Videos, interactive computer software, historical sources and a variety of textbooks are used both as classroom aids and also in independent research. Assessment is an integral part of the learning process. Students are assessed at the end of each unit and Assessment For Learning is promoted in the classroom. Cross curricular links with other subjects such as Personal Development have been developed to add to students' overall understanding and interest of the units studied. Additionally, there are opportunities for educational visits to places such as the Slave Museum and Hale Village.