At Castle Donington College, we believe that a high-quality History curriculum should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the history of the world and its people. 

The history curriculum we offer will prepare pupils to identify significance, change and continuity, cause and consequence and diversity across their courses of study. Pupils have the opportunity to consider how the past influences the present; to find out what past societies were like; to learn how these societies organised their politics; and understand the beliefs and cultures that have come to influence people‘s actions. 

We hope that as they work through the course, pupils develop a chronological framework and can link significant events and people to this. As they learn about the diversity of human experience, we want them to understand more about themselves as individuals and members of society. What they learn in history lessons can influence their decisions, personal choices, attitudes and values. The skills of research, sifting through evidence and presenting a point of view are valuable skills to use across the curriculum and in adult life.

Our KS3 topics provide pupils with an inspiring, engaging and challenging curriculum. There is a diverse range of historical events, people and themes, which engage pupils and encourage them to think about the big picture of religious, political, social and economic changes. 

Pupils receive two lessons of History per fortnight in KS3 as part of a Humanities curriculum. Pupils are taught in mixed ability tutor groups throughout and teacher expertise and differentiated resources are used effectively to support, stretch and challenge all pupils.

History lessons in Years 7, 8 and 9 provide the opportunity to prepare a foundation of core knowledge and a sense of place and time. In Year 9, all pupils will also study part of a topic within the GCSE specification as a taster for Key Stage 4 History. 

The GCSE History course aims to extend the knowledge of key events, periods and societies in British and World History. It will develop students as independent learners and critical thinkers. It will develop their ability to ask relevant questions, to investigate issues and to test historical interpretations. It will also help them to organise and communicate what they learn in a variety of ways.