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Eastbury Community School

History

     

History Department Information

History at Eastbury Community School

Our strong uptake in History is driven by a carefully sequenced, engaging, and academically rigorous Key Stage 3 curriculum. We aim to spark curiosity about the past while building the disciplinary skills needed for success at GCSE and A-Level. Our department combines strong subject expertise with a commitment to fostering a genuine love of history.


Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9)
Year 7: Foundations & Medieval England
Students begin by developing core historical skills such as chronology, causation, and source analysis. They study:
  • Migration to Britain
  • The Norman Conquest and the Battle of Hastings
  • Medieval kingship and the Crusades
  • The Black Death
  • Local history, with a focus on Barking


Year 8: Early Modern to Modern World
Students deepen their understanding of change, continuity, and interpretations through:
  • The Tudor period
  • The Industrial Revolution
  • The British Empire
  • The Transatlantic Slave Trade
  • The Civil Rights Movement
  • Days/People that Shaped the World


Year 9: Modern World & GCSE Preparation
Students study key modern themes while building GCSE-ready skills:
  • The First World War
  • The Suffragettes
  • Adolf Hitler’s rise to power
  • The Holocaust
  • The Second World War
  • Civil Rights in postwar Britain
This year ensures students are fully prepared for the demands of GCSE study.


Key Stage 4 (GCSE – Pearson Edexcel)
History remains one of the most popular GCSE options at Eastbury, reflecting students’ enjoyment and the strong foundations built at KS3.
Students complete three examination papers:
  • Paper 1: Crime and Punishment, c1000–present
    Focus on change and continuity over time, including a historic environment study of Whitechapel.
  • Paper 2: British Depth Study & Period Study
    • Early Elizabethan England
    • Superpower relations and the Cold War
  • Paper 3: Modern Depth Study
    • Weimar and Nazi Germany
Across GCSE, students develop skills in explanation, evaluation, and source analysis in line with Edexcel requirements.


Key Stage 5 (A-Level)
A-Level History is a popular and challenging option:
  • Year 12:
    • Germany and West Germany, 1918–1989
    • The Rise and Fall of Fascism in Italy
  • Year 13:
    • The Wars of the Roses (Yorkists and Lancastrians)
    • Coursework on a chosen topic (e.g. Civil Rights in the USA)
Students refine advanced analytical, evaluative, and independent research skills in preparation for higher education.

Homework

Curriculum Information

Trips

Trips & Enrichment

We believe that history is best understood when experienced beyond the classroom. In recent years, we have offered a wide range of trips and enrichment opportunities to bring learning to life. These include international visits to Ypres, Auschwitz and Berlin, as well as visits closer to home such as the National Maritime Museum, British Museum and Imperial War Museum. Students also engage with the arts to deepen historical understanding, attending performances such as Oliver! and Six. Locally, pupils explore their heritage through visits to Eastbury Manor House. These experiences enrich students’ understanding, support classroom learning, and help foster a lasting interest in the subject.