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, 66.3% of students achieved grades 9 to 5; and 80.7% achieved grades 9 to 4.
In History students are assessed in several ways. Students receive regular feedback using the school’s feedback policy: live feedback, review feedback and bridging feedback. Live marking codes are used in lessons to pinpoint areas for development in students’ writing, which they can correct at that time. Quiz questions are used to check understanding and recall knowledge that was learnt in previous lessons. Home learning tasks are created to assess students’ recall of knowledge as well as testing 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 Work 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 develop further. Students use green pen to correct mistakes and improve their work. Students are formally assessed at the end of Year 11 by undertaking OCR History B SHP GCSE which is externally marked, and students receive a GCSE in the subject if they pass.
Mr Daniel Tanner – Head of History and Character
Miss Alicia Pearce – Teacher of History and Digital Skills
Mr Luke McNee – Teacher of History
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.
Students in Year 10 and 11 that select History as their global option, or as a second global subject receive 5 lessons a fortnight.
The Humanities faculty offers a mindful art club which provides an opportunity for students to consider their own well-being and strategies for maintaining a positive frame of mind.
Students in history are provided with opportunities to attend after school revision and interventions to accelerate their learning, as well as attend clubs such as ‘The West Wing nuts’ which involves discussions around politics. Students can visit the WW1 battlefields as a part of the Language trip to France.
Students can access support with their revision through signing up for after school or holiday intervention sessions.
A list of books and films linked to the topics covered by the course are available to all students.
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
