Head of Department: Miss A Harris

Department team:

• Miss M Gilbert
• Mr L Shellum

History is integral to the lives of all human beings. The study of History provides us as a society with the opportunity to understand and learn from the past, to create a better future for generations to come. History as a subject is always evolving, and reflects current societal issues in order to aid student understanding of the world they live in today.

As a department, we have selected topics for study which we judge as vital to the historical education of students at Churston as these events have been decisive in shaping both national and world history. Furthermore, these topics embed the importance of values throughout the key stages such as social justice and compassion, whilst also providing opportunities for students to gain an insight into the story of local histories linked to these global historical topics. The intertwining of world, national, and local histories brings resonance and relevance to what is studied with core links to social justice whilst also preparing students to take their place in the wider world.

What we do

Delivery of the teaching of History at Churston is in the form of chronological overarching enquiry questions. These enquiries provoke thought, and provide stimulus for engagement across the student body in regards to key controversies and mysteries 

Students at Churston will come to the end of their Key Stage Three History education with an knowledge of key events of world History; including ancient civilizations, the reigns of English medieval monarchs, English Civil War, the development (and later the decolonisation) of the British Empire, the First World War, the Second World War, the Holocaust, the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan, and finally the history of the Cold War.

Skills taught across this key stage focus on all key concepts within History; chronology, significance, similarity & difference, cause & consequence, evidence and interpretation. The use of evidence is integral to the curriculum delivered at this level at Churston. The interweaving of the use of historical evidence across topics provides students with the ability to understand the true nature and discipline behind the subject of History. Across the department we utilise a variety of teaching methods to engage, enthuse and invigorate students at Churston in regards to the study of the past and in order to bring History to life.