The History Curriculum at Westfield Academy 

History is a subject that inspires students to become confident and independent learners who can understand and use different knowledge and skills to complement them in school and in the wider world. History teaches students to argue, listen, understand and respect the views of those around them and to help them to be valuable members of the local and national community.

In KS3, history offers the opportunity to investigate the past and to recognise parallels and patterns that are still relevant today. Pupils develop an awareness of significance, change and continuity, cause and consequence and similarity and difference while learning skills to investigate and debate the past with confidence. At key stage 3, all students study history. They will study who are the British, the Tudors, the Witch Craze in 17th century England, Victorian England, the legacy of the Slave trade, the impact of the British Empire, the World Wars and the World After WW2.

GCSE History enables pupils to be curious and to stretch themselves to investigate events and people. It provides fascinating human stories as well as helps students to develop as 21st century world citizens by recognising the impact of historical events that still reverberate today. We also endeavour to immerse students in history by visiting either Berlin or Poland to see the impact of Nazism and the influence of the Cold War in person. At key stage 4, history becomes an option subject. Students will use the Edexcel specification and will study, Crime and Punishment Through Time, Historic environment, early Elizabethan England, 1558-1588, Cold War and Superpowers, 1945-1990, Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918-1939.

History in the sixth form 

A-level History provides students with the skills of analysis and evaluation which are invaluable in any job and an integral component of many degree courses. A- level history is a stimulating and challenging subject that is a very popular and successful subject at Westfield Academy.  At key stage 5, students will continue to use the Edexcel specification and will study, Britain Transformed, 1918-1997, USA: Boom, Bust and Recovery, 1920-1955, Ireland and the Union, 1774-192. 

Students can go on to study History further at university and pursue careers in Law, government and education.