Why do we learn history?
Our approach
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Year 10
Year 11
GCSE Revision
Year 12
Year 13
A level revision

Why do we learn history?

Studying the past provides pupils with the opportunity to understand the world today. History equips pupils with important skills, including the ability to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence and develop judgement. Through their studies, pupils at AJK are exposed to a wide range of societies across extended periods of time. These studies help pupils to appreciate the diversity and complexity of human life, while also emphasising continuities and similarities throughout time.

Our approach

History units of work are structured around an enquiry question. These questions are designed to focus on one of the following disciplinary concepts:

  • Continuity and change (in and between periods)

  • Cause and consequence

  • Similarity and difference (within a period)

  • Significance

  • Chronology

All units are structured to encourage historical modes of thought. In KS1, pupils begin by studying time periods within living history in Year 1. In Year 2, they begin to explore events beyond living history, focusing on important national events (such as the Great Fire of London) and the lives of significant individuals. In KS2, pupils study units chronologically, beginning with Prehistoric Britain. The one exception is their study of Ancient Egypt in Year 6, which deals with issues of historical interpretation. Throughout their time in KS2, pupils are exposed to a range of British and global history.

In KS1, pupils study history every other term, on rotation with geography. In KS2, they study history for an hour every week. Each KS2 unit includes 6 knowledge-building lessons, which conclude with pupils planning and writing a short essay to answer the enquiry question. They then have two ‘meanwhile, elsewhere’ lessons, in which they explore events in other parts of the world at a similar time period to their current unit. Where possible, each unit includes an enrichment opportunity – whether a workshop in school, or an external trip.

Year 1

Autumn

Toys: Now and Then
Spring

Travel and Transport
Summer

Enfield

All Year 1 subjects Next Year 1 Subject - Geography

Year 2

Autumn

Explorers and Exploration
Spring

The Great Fire of London
Summer

They Made a Difference

All Year 2 subjects Next Year 2 Subject - Geography

Year 3

Autumn

Prehistoric Britain
Spring

Early Civilisations
Summer

The Legacy of Ancient Greece

All Year 3 subjects Next Year 3 Subject - Geography

Year 4

Autumn

The Roman Empire
Spring

Roman Britain
Summer

The Benin Kingdom

All Year 4 subjects Next Year 4 Subject - Geography

Year 5

Autumn

Anglo-Saxon and Viking Invasions
Spring

The Islamic Golden Age
Summer

The Victorians and the Industrial Revolution

All Year 5 subjects Next Year 5 Subject - Geography

Year 6

Autumn

Ancient Egypt
Spring

The World Wars
Summer

A History of Protest

All Year 6 subjects Next Year 6 Subject - Geography

Year 7

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

World views in c1000: Islamic civilisations and the Western Christian world

Contested power, contested land: The Normans
Spring 1 Spring 2

Contested power, contested land: the First Crusade & challenges to the English monarchy

Empires: 13th century expansion and collapse
Summer 1 Summer 2

Stability / instability in the 14th & 15th centuries

Religious revolution & resistance in the 16th century

All Year 7 subjects Next Year 7 Subject - Geography

Year 8

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

The Norman Conquest

The Islamic Empire
Spring 1 Spring 2

Medieval England

Medieval England
Summer 1 Summer 2

Renaissance and Reformation

Renaissance and Reformation

All Year 8 subjects Next Year 8 Subject - Geography

Year 9

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

The French Revolution

The Industrial Revolution
Spring 1 Spring 2

The British Empire

The British Empire
Summer 1 Summer 2

World War One

The rise of Hitler in Germany

All Year 9 subjects Next Year 9 Subject - Geography

Year 10

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

Medicine Through Time

Medicine Through Time
Spring 1 Spring 2

Weimar and Nazi Germany

Weimar and Nazi Germany
Summer 1 Summer 2

Superpower Relations and the Cold War

Superpower Relations and the Cold War

All Year 10 subjects Next Year 10 Subject - Geography

Year 11

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

Anglo-Saxon and Norman England

Anglo-Saxon and Norman England
Spring 1 Spring 2

Revision

Revision
Summer 1 Summer 2

Revision

Revision

All Year 11 subjects Next Year 11 Subject - Geography

Year 12

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

India, 1914-48: Topic 1 – WW1 and its impact on British India, 1914- 20

America, 1918-96: Theme 1 – The changing political environment , 1917-80

India, 1914-48: Topic 2 – Changing political relationshi ps, 1920-30

America, 1918-96: Theme 2 – The quest for civil rights, 1917-80
Spring 1 Spring 2

India, 1914-48: Topic 3 – Consultation and confrontation, 1930-42

America, 1918-96: Theme 3 – Society and culture in change, 1917-80

India, 1914-48: Topic 3 – Consultation and confrontation, 1930-42

America, 1918-96: Theme 3 – Society and culture in change, 1917-80
Summer 1 Summer 2

India, 1914-48: Topic 4 – The road to independence, 1942-48

America, 1918-96: Theme 4 – The changing quality of life, 1917-80

Coursework: Initial ideas

America, 1918-96: Historical interpretatio ns – What impact did the Reagan presidency (’81-’89) have on the USA in the years 1981- 86?

All Year 12 subjects Next Year 12 Subject - Geography

Year 13

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

Lancastrians and Yorkists: Topic 1 – Richard II and Henry IV

Coursework: Finalising questions and initial reading

Lancastrians and Yorkists: Topics 2 and 3 – Henry V and VI

Coursework: Essay planning
Spring 1 Spring 2

Lancastrians and Yorkists: Topics 4 and 5 – Edward IV, Richard III and Henry VII

Coursework: Essay writing

Revision
Summer 1 Summer 2

Revision

Revision

All Year 13 subjects Next Year 13 Subject - Geography