Ysgol Abersychan School

History

Staff:

Subject Leader, Mr Barrie Evans, Barrie.Evans@abersychanschool.co.uk
Second in Department, Mr David Thomas, David.Thomas@abersychanschool.co.uk
Line Manager, Mr Anthony Ager, Anthony.Ager@abersychanschool.co.uk

The Curriculum at Key Stage 3:

Year 7: An thematic investigation into the history of Wales.

Different topics studied include:

The local history of Abersychan, focusing in particular on the industrial revolution and the Llanerch disaster;
How Wales has changed, focusing on a timeline of key events in Welsh history;
What was life like in Wales, focusing on a comparison between life in the middle ages and life in the industrial revolution;

Who rules Wales, focusing upon the age of the Welsh Princes, the conquest of Wales and the modern Welsh Assembly Government

Year 8: the change and conflict in Wales and Britain between 1500 and 1760. Different topics studied include:

Henry VII as king;
Henry VIII and the break with Rome;
Elizabeth I as Queen.

Year 8: the changes that happened in Wales, Britain and the wider world between 1760 and 1914. Different topics studied include:

The industrial revolution, focusing on changes in Wales, coal and iron.

Year 9: how some twentieth century events have shaped our world. Different topics studied include:

Wales and Britain in The First World War, focusing upon the causes of the war, recruitment, conditions in the trenches, the role of women in the war and the Battle of the Somme.

The Curriculum at Key Stage 4:

At GCSE History, four units are currently studied. You will study and sit exams on:

Depression War and Recovery, 1930-1951, focusing upon life in the depression in the 1930’s, the road to the Second World War, the Home Front in the Second World War and Wales and Britain after the Second World War;
Germany in Transition, 1919-1939, focusing upon Hitler's rise to power, how Hitler consolidated his power and how Hitler changed the life of ordinary people in Germany;
Changes in Crime and Punishment, 1500-Present Day, looking at how the justice system in Britain has evolved;
You will also complete 2 Non Examination Assessments, on Britain in World War One, focusing on the role of women and the Battle of the Somme.

The Germany In Transition examination will be sat at the end of Year 10 but can also be tried a second time at the end of Year 11. The Depression War and Recovery, 1930-1951 and Changes in Crime & Punishment, 1500-Present Day examinations will be sat at the end of Year 11.

Useful Websites:

Year 7:

Year 8:

Year 9:

GCSE History:

Important Dates for the Diary:

The Autumn Term of Year 10 is when our GCSE History Non Examination Assessment is completed. Attendance at these lessons is extremely important.
In June of Year 10, pupils sit the Germany In Transition examination. It is important that you do not book any holidays for this time!
In June of Year 11, pupils sit the Depression, War & Recovery and Changes In Crime & Punishment examinations. As with Year 10 it is extremely important that you do not book any holidays for this time!

Extra-Curricular Opportunities and Visits:

As a department, we pride ourselves on the wide range of educational visits that pupils have the opportunity to experience. Locally, we have visited Cosmeston Medieval Village to understand what life was like in Wales during the Middle Ages and Big Pit Mining Museum to experience working conditions in the Industrial Revolution. Nationally, we regularly visit the Imperial War Museum in London to bring the horrors of the First World War to life for pupils. Internationally, the department has taken pupils to Belgium to learn about the First World War, Berlin, to understand more about Naziism and Poland to visit Auschwitz and appreciate the impact of the Holocaust.