Programme of Study

Knowledge, Skills and Understanding

During key stage 3 pupils learn about significant individuals and events in the history of Britain from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century. They also learn about key aspects of European and world history. They show their understanding by making connections between events and changes in the different periods and areas studied, and by comparing the structure of societies and economic, cultural and political developments. They evaluate and use sources of information, using their historical knowledge to analyse the past and explain how it can be represented and interpreted in different ways.

Chronological understanding

Pupils should be taught to recognise and make appropriate use of dates, vocabulary and conventions that describe historical periods and the passing of time.

Knowledge and understanding of events, people and changes in the past\

Pupils should be taught:

to describe and analyse the relationships between the characteristic features of the periods and societies studied including the experiences and range of ideas, beliefs and attitudes of men, women and children in the past
about the social, cultural, religious and ethnic diversity of the societies studied, both in Britain and the wider world
to analyse and explain the reasons for, and results of, the historical events, situations and changes in the periods studied
to identify trends, both within and across different periods, and links between local, British, European and world history
to consider the significance of the main events, people and changes studied

Historical interpretation

Pupils should be taught:

how and why historical events, people, situations and changes have been interpreted in different ways
to evaluate interpretations

Historical enquiry

Pupils should be taught:

identify, select and use a range of appropriate sources of information including oral accounts, documents, printed sources, the media, artefacts, pictures, photographs, music, museums, buildings and sites, and ICT-based sources as a basis for independent historical enquiries
evaluate the sources used, select and record information relevant to the enquiry and reach conclusions

Organisation and communication

Pupils should be taught:

recall, prioritise and select historical information
accurately select and use chronological conventions and historical vocabulary appropriate to the periods studied to organise historical information
communicate their knowledge and understanding of history, using a range of techniques, including spoken language, structured narratives, substantiated explanations and the use of ICT

Breadth of study

During the key stage, pupils should be taught knowledge, skills and understanding through three British studies, a European study and two world studies.

In their study of local, British, European and world history, pupils should be taught about:

significant events, people and changes from the recent and more distant past
history from a variety of perspectives including political, religious, social, cultural, aesthetic, economic, technological and scientific
aspects of the histories of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales where appropriate
the history of Britain in its European and wider world context
some aspects in overview and others in-depth

Britain 1066-1500

A study of major features of Britain’s medieval past: the development of the monarchy, and significant events and characteristic features of the lives of people living throughout the British Isles, including the local area if appropriate.

Britain 1500-1750

A study of crowns, parliaments and people: the major political, religious and social changes affecting people throughout the British Isles, including the local area if appropriate.

Britain 1750-1900

A study of how expansion of trade and colonisation, industrialisation and political changes affected the United Kingdom, including the local area.

A European study before 1914

A study of a significant period or event in the prehistory or history of Europe.

A world study before 1900

A study of the cultures, beliefs and achievements of an African, American, Asian or Australasian society in the past (other than those included in the programme of study for key stage 2).

A world study after 1900

A study of some of the significant individuals, events and developments from across the twentieth century, including the two World Wars, the Holocaust, the Cold War, and their impact on Britain, Europe and the wider world.