Historic Environment

Schools that are already teaching SHP will be familiar with the concept of a local History study, unlike their Modern World counterparts. However, the new GCSE is significantly different from what has gone before, as the unit will be assessed by terminal assessment and for most assessment bodies the site will be selected for schools. So, how can we embrace the opportunities offered by this study of the historic environment? Firstly, it is worth comparing how the examining bodies have designed this module. Each exam body has different assessment focuses and freedom of choice. It may also call for a re-evaluation of how your school teaches at Key Stage 3. What skills do you want to embed?

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  • Thinking about local history - Step by step local study

    Article

    The short walk from our school to St Mary's Parish Church, Leyton, takes us past late Victorian terraces, post-Second World War apartment blocks and early twentyfirst century social housing in one of the most densely populated and ethnically diverse parts of East London, sandwiched as it is between Stratford and...

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  • Time and Place; Using a Local Historical Site with Key Stage 2 and 3

    Multipage Article

    English Heritage and the Historical Association have teamed up to provide this great new CPD guide to getting the most out of local historical sites with your classes. This easy to follow unit provides the basis for an entire unit of local study using the built heritage around you. Examples...

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  • Triumphs Show 169: Using 360 VR Technology with the GCSE Historic Environment study

    Article

    One of the biggest changes in the new GCSE specifications is the requirement for all students to undertake a study of the historic environment. Unsurprisingly the approach taken by the exam boards to this requirement varies widely. While some boards allow schools a free choice of site, others have decided...

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  • Triumphs Show 170: making a place for fieldwork in history lessons

    Article

    Why ‘do’ local history? The new (grades 9–1) GCSE specifications place a lot of importance on the local environment. The rationale for this is to get students to situate a site in its historical context, and to examine the relationship between local and national developments. Initially this change was the...

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  • Ufton Court

    Article

    Ufton Court, an Elizabethan Grade 1 Manor House between Reading and Newbury, is an inspirational centre for schools. The Ufton team lead residential and day visits for KS2 that aim to give children a passion for history.  Residential VisitsEnjoy sole overnight occupancy of the inspiring Tudor Manor over 1 to...

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  • Using sites for insights

    Article

    Working alongside local history teachers to prepare for the new GCSE specifications Steve Illingworth and Emma Manners were struck that many teachers were concerned about two issues in particular: the breadth and depth of knowledge demanded and new forms of assessment, especially the historic environment paper. In this article they...

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  • ‘Man, people in the past were indeed stupid’

    Article

    In this article, which is based on Huijgen’s PhD dissertation Balancing between the past and the present, Tim Huijgen and Paul Holthuis present the results of an experimental method of teaching 14–16-year-old students to contextualise their historical studies in a different way. In the four lessons described, students’ initial reactions...

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