History at Lawrence Sheriff School is a compulsory subject in year 7 and 8 and a popular option choice at both GCSE and A Level.

Within the History department at LSS we intend to create a passion for the subject from entry in Year 7 to undergraduate level and beyond. Through the study of a broad range and depth of British and World Historical events, we aim to help students discover things from the past that will inform them about the world they live in today. Students will learn in an engaging, exciting and academically challenging manner; allowing them to embrace inclusive, independent and active learning strategies. History teaches many skills that are relevant across the curriculum and we aspire to empower students, to question historical narratives and to begin to form opinions about controversial subjects both past and present.

The department also aims to encourage interest in History outside the classroom; there will be an opportunity to visit Warwick Castle in Year 7, the Black Country Museum in Year 8 and Ypres at GCSE.

In year 7 and 8, the department’s approach is to strike a balance between knowledge and skills, studying British and World History within a broad enquiry framework based both on thematic, chronological and in depth investigations.

In Year 7, students concentrate on the core themes of religion, society and power, specifically looking at how Britain became the country it is today and some of the impact its empire has had on the world. They cover a range of topics from Medieval History to the Transatlantic Slave Trade.  

In Year 8, students focus on areas such as rights, war and power, revisiting some of the themes from the previous year to create an interleaving approach. They cover a range of topics from the Industrial Revolution and World War One, to the social developments of the Twentieth Century which has led Britain to become the multicultural and diverse country it is today.

Year 9 Students continue with their KS3 studies - again focusing on overarching broad themes such as war and power. They cover topics in depth such as the Cold War and the American Civil Rights Movement, while also exploring how people in Britain got the vote. They will look at in depth case studies of local sites in Rugby and the Midlands which have played a key role in shaping our local and national history.

Year 10 and 11 students study the following topics from the AQA specification: Conflict and Tension - 1945 - 72, an in depth look at the causes and events of the Cold War; Health and the People - 1000 AD to the present day, a wider study of the similarities and differences between our response to illness over the last 1000 years; Norman Britain, an insight into the impact William the Conqueror had on our country; and Germany - 1890 to 1945, which explores how Hitler rose to power and the impact he had when he got there. Each year for the Normans they will study a Historic Environment site - this could be an area of Norman Britain, a battlefield, castle. monastery or any other site.

Year 12 and 13: Tudor England and Russia 1917-53 are the two main units taught at A level from the AQA specification. In addition, students will complete a NEA (coursework) on the Causes of World War One.

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Sixth Form prospectus