The Staff Team

The History department has two full time members of Staff: Mrs Walker, Head of Department, and Mr Baker. Mrs Walker has been at Chipping Norton for 16 years and Mr Baker has been here for 20 years. Both members of staff are passionate about History and enjoy sharing this passion for the subject with our students. Mr Baker has an in-depth knowledge about both World Wars and Mrs Walker thoroughly enjoys teaching and finding out more about Russian history, especially the rise of Lenin and Stalin in the 20th Century.

Other staff members teaching History at Chipping Norton School include:

Mr Doherty has been a teacher of history for over 25 years and has taught in five very different schools  – where all students love their studies of the past. He  likes all aspects of history, but is particularly interested in the history of the USA and Russia/USSR in the 20th century.  He believes that every subject is important and can be fun, but that history is the best and would love to see every single student, in every single school, study it right up to the age of 99!
Mr Dye has taught a range of humanities and social science subjects in varied settings but has always specialised in Philosophy and Religion.  He is currently completing a Masters in Philosophy and contributes to Extended Project, Debating and Oxbridge preparation.

Mrs Jackson has been a dedicated teacher at Chipping Norton School since 1989.  She has huge experience of teaching and assessing especially at GCSE and A Level, and enjoys building positive relationships with students.

Mr Ward, Head of Sixth Form, has successfully taught a wide range of humanities subjects such as Sociology, Philosophy, Religious Education and History. He has a very firm commitment to providing challenging, engaging and enjoyable lessons to all students.

Miss Stokes has a love for both teaching and learning about history and has done so ever since she was at school, seeing her all the way through to studying History at the University of Cambridge. Her favourite period is the 18th century, from the Industrial Revolution to the French Revolution!

The Learning Space

The History classrooms are in G3 and G4 next to the RE department. We believe that modelling pupils’ work on our display boards helps, and guide pupils of all abilities to understand and learn what makes a very good History answer. In both classrooms there are key words and model answers of GCSE and KS3 work. In the corridors outside the History classrooms there are also many examples of KS3 “Tic-Tac-Toe” homework.

The Curriculum

Curriculum Roadmaps

Click the image for a PDF

Key Stage 3

Here the approach is enquiry led through key History questions to support developing research skills for the research/enquiry units at GCSE and A2 exam courses.

Year 7

  • Norman Conquest
  • Medieval life & the impact of the 14thC. Black Death
  • King John- the job of a Medieval king.
  • Medieval Church & the death of Thomas Becket
  • The Reformation 
  • Elizabeth 1, the Reformation and the wider world

Year 8

In Year 8 we expand upon the skills developed in Year 7, to interpret sources and evaluate their usefulness.  The topics we cover:

  • The rollercoaster 17th century – why is it so important in British History?
  • Dragon’s Den:  why were late 18th/19th century entrepreneurs so successful?  New industrial industries and impact on child workers
  • The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
  • How did ordinary people in 19th century Britain find ways to change things for the better?
  • The Suffragettes: mad or imaginative?

Year 9

In Year 9 the skills we develop are targeted towards the GCSE expectation of interpretation, analysis and extended judgements.  The topics are:

  • The Titanic – who was to blame?
  • WW1 – Britain at war
  • How did WW1 challenge people’s lives?
  • Protest and struggle in the 20th century – the rise of Hitler and life in Nazi Germany
  • Why did WW2 start?
  • World War 2 and how it ended
  • The fight for Civil Rights in the USA

Key Stage 4 GCSE

Summary of Course Structure:

The course consists of 2 exam papers which include

  • One period study
  • One wider world depth study
  • One thematic study
  • One British depth study

Both exam papers are taken at the end of year 11.

Examination Board: AQA

Assessment: Full GCSE

Exam paper 1: Germany 1890-1945 and Conflict and Tension 1918-1939

Exam paper 2: Britain: Health and the people/Medieval England 1066-1100

Course Content:

Unit 1: Democracy and Dictatorship

This unit looks at the development of Germany from a democracy to dictatorship, the development of the collapse of democracy and the rise and fall of Nazism. Students will study the political, economic and social and cultural aspects of these two developments and the role of ideas played in influencing change. They will also look at the role of individuals and groups and the impact the development had on them.

Unit 2: Conflict and Tension

This unit enables students to understand the complex and diverse interests of different individuals and states. It focuses on the causes of the Second World War and seeks to show how and why the conflict occurred.

Unit 3: Thematic Study: This unit will enable students to understand how medicine and public health developed Britain over a long period of time. It will draw on wider developments that impacted on the core themes. Students will study the importance of the following factors: war, superstition, chance, government, communication, science and technology and the role of individuals.

Unit 4 British Depth StudyThis unit will study the political, military, religious aspects of this period and arising controversies.

Key Stage 5 ( A level)

The A level course consists of 4 study units, 3 of which are externally examined at the end of the 2 year course.

Year 12 students study

  • Britian 1930-1997 which also includes the study and role of Churchill
  • Russia 1894-1941

Year 13 students study

  • Topic essay-non exam (3000-4000 word essay on a topic of their choice
  • Changing nature of warfare