Curriculum vision/mantra
The Dorcan Academy’s History curriculum empowers students to find their voice, to stand up against injustice and to be stand out leaders in our ever-expanding metropolis. The History curriculum is not about regurgitating events from the past but providing students with the cultural literacy and the knowledge to evaluate and make sense of the truth. The curriculum disseminates powerful knowledge on the themes of Persecution and Emancipation, Monarchy and Government, Religion and the Church, Imperialism, and expansion, and War and conflict – Tyranny. The Dorcan Academy students will develop the skills to ‘Think like a Historian’, enabling students to have the confidence to question and interrogate socially accepted norms, alongside having the ability to compete and be the very best in society, thus allowing our scholars to leave their mark on history.
How we aim to achieve our vision/mantra
We achieve our vision through having high expectations of all students. Lessons are created to inspire, engage, plus challenge students’ preconceptions of the truth through fundamental historical themes and concepts. Students from all backgrounds are supported through well planned, bespoke lessons with specifically devised activities. Those who need extra provision, to excel, are provided with personalised targeted support. Students are not only taught the skills necessary to succeed at GCSE, but also the skills to succeed in the modern world. Through these clear and coherent actions, we create scholars who can defy the odds, break down barriers and challenge society’s expectations, allowing them to thrive and make a difference in their local and global communities.
What does a Dorcan Historian look and sound like?
A Dorcan historian will exude the following characteristics:
In History last year, 36.4% of students achieved grades 9 to 7, 62.1% achieved grades 9 to 5 and 68.2% achieved grades 9 to 4. The average grade achieved per student was grade 5.
In History, students are assessed in several ways. Students receive regular feedback through the school’s feedback policy, which includes live feedback, review feedback, and bridging feedback. Quiz questions are used to check understanding and recall knowledge that was learnt in previous lessons. Academic Prep tasks are created to assess students’ recall of knowledge, as well as test their spellings of Tier two and Tier three words. Formative assessments are used to assess students’ learning and identify gaps that can be closed before summative assessments. Summative assessments are used to check students’ knowledge of different Schemes of Learning and their written communication. Students also sit exam papers at the end of topics and during Prelim windows. Whole-class feedback sheets are used, which identify areas for students to work on to further develop their skills. Students use green pen to correct mistakes and improve their work. Students are formally assessed at the end of Year 11 by undertaking the OCR History B SHP GCSE, which is externally marked. Students receive a GCSE in the subject if they pass.
Mr Daniel Tanner – Associate Assistant Headteacher, Character
Miss Kerhys Lang – Assistant Headteacher – Safeguarding and attendance
Miss Alicia Pearce – Teacher of History and Digital Skills
Mr Luke McNee – Teacher of Humanities
All students study History throughout KS3 at The Dorcan Academy and may choose to continue to follow through to GCSE.
In Year 7, 8 and 9, all students have 3 lessons a fortnight; however in Year 9 after Easter students will specialise in either History or Geography; where they will then receive 6 lessons a fortnight.
Students in Year 10 and 11 that select History as their EBacc option, or as a second EBacc subject receive 5 lessons a fortnight.
The History department faculty offers a Dungeons & Dragons club, which provides students with a creative and engaging way to explore storytelling, teamwork, and problem-solving, while also linking to historical themes and settings.
The department also organises enriching trips, including visits to Hampton Court Palace, where students experience the grandeur of Tudor history; MShed in Bristol, which explores the city’s industrial and social past; the Black Country Museum, bringing the Industrial Revolution to life; the Imperial War Museum, offering powerful insights into 20th-century conflict; and the D-Day Museum, which deepens understanding of World War Two and the significance of the Normandy landings.
Students in History are provided with opportunities to attend DEAR time intervention, as well as after-school revision and intervention sessions, designed to accelerate their progress and support them in achieving their full potential.
Additionally, a curated list of books and films related to the course topics is available to all students, encouraging broader reading, independent study, and cultural enrichment beyond the classroom.
John D Clare – http://www.johndclare.net/
Spartacus Educational – http://spartacus-educational.com/
History – https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zk26n39
Oak Academy KS3 – https://classroom.thenational.academy/subjects-by-key-stage/key-stage-3/subjects/history Oak Academy KS4 – https://classroom.thenational.academy/subjects-by-key-stage/key-stage-4/subjects/history
