History
Learning history is an opportunity to learn some of the best stories that humanity has to offer. Sometimes the stories are sad, sometimes intriguing, exciting, puzzling, or funny, but they are always interesting. Learning from our past helps us to understand where we have come from, why we are the way we are and how the story of our own lives fits into the bigger picture.
At Southlands, our students take a chronological journey from the Middle Ages right up to the 21st century. We look at big themes such as the impact of powerful individuals, the influence of Britain on the world, the creation of modern America, developments in modern conflict and a study of changing scientific understanding over time. We cover all of the key events that you would expect to see such as the Norman Conquest, Henry VIIIs reformation, The British Empire, World Wars One and Two, but we also focus on issues that are specific to the lives of our students. For example, when we teach the Industrial Revolution, we do not talk about it in general terms, but we teach the students about the direct impact these events had on the people, culture and physical appearance of their hometown. This really brings the history curriculum to life when our students are given the opportunity to literally walk down memory lane and imagine themselves in a Chorley of the past. This is also very meaningful to our students when we highlight the address of soldiers who fought and died in the First World War but had originally live in Chorley. During one lesson on this topic a student realised that the address they were looking at on a soldiers post card home was actually their own home address… they were now living in a WW1 soldiers’ previous home; history lessons rarely get more personal than that.
The content that we cover captures the imagination and engages our students, but what they take away with them when they leave are the skills of a historian. We teach our students how to be critical of the sources of information they use, a skill that is invaluable in a world of social media. If you think like an historian you always question what you see, what you read and what you are told. One of the most important tools in the historian’s kit is the question ‘Why?’ This question always encourages us to dig a little deeper, find out a little bit more and come to a more accurate conclusion. We intend for our curriculum to give our students plenty of practice using these critical skills that can be transferred to so many aspects of their lives.
The output of our students in lessons also give them the opportunity to practice a variety of skills. Group presentation work encourages positive team working skills and strengthens communication skills. Essay writing necessitates research and judgement skills as well as sophisticated written communication; and debate allows our students to challenge each other. Each of these skills could be invaluable one day as our students go out into the world of work.
So much of what happens in the world today is based on the decisions that have been made in the past and understanding those ideas is the key to unlocking our understanding of the modern world. History is an invaluable subject that enriches our students knowledge and equips them with the tools they need to decode, discuss and evaluate the world around them.
