History

The History Department at Maidstone Grammar School is dedicated to sharing our love of the subject with our students and equipping them with robust transferrable skills that will stand them in good stead in their future lives.

History is a popular subject here at Maidstone Grammar School

We aim to develop both the traditional focus on the retention of specific knowledge but also how to write, how to argue, how to critique, how to reframe, how to read, how to be empathetic to other perspectives, and how to understand and interpret evidence. Our aspiration is to enhance our students understanding of the world around them and how it has developed.

Key Stage 3 is a period of transition. There are a variety of teaching methods already familiar, such as project work, role-play, and discussion and, where appropriate, visits to historical sites, local History and learning from historical artefacts. Here students start to develop the more traditional skills of learning, note-taking, structured essay writing, as well as evaluation of historical source. They may also have opportunities for the use of ICT. GCSE History combines an emphasis on know the recall of historical facts with the development of historical skills, such as the understanding and use of key concepts. Examinations involve essay writing, shorter answer questions and evaluation of historical sources.

In Key Stage 4 History we build on the foundations of Key Stage 3 and look forward to the different demands of the Sixth Form. The department has an excellent record of GCSE exam success.

A-level History is a combination of European and British topics. These involve specialised investigations of themes: The road to Unification: Italy 1830-70; Britain 1785-1870 + Germany 1871-1990 (including a coursework essay on the radicalisation of Nazi Germany 1935-41). Students develop research, analytical and essay writing skills along with the ability to analyse, cross-reference and evaluate primary and secondary sources.  Students get the chance to visit Berlin to help facilitate their understanding of 19th and 20th Century German history.

The document linked below outlines how we have sequenced knowledge and skills in each academic year:

• History Years 7-13 Curriculum Overview 2023-2024

Enrichment

Beyond the standard curriculum the History department runs a metal detecting and Numismatics club, a Historical fiction book club and a sixth form debating society. Each year we appoint History prefects who support the work of the department as well as mentoring fellow students.

Click here to read our MGS Extra Prospectus and find out what clubs are on offer.

Click here to access the KS3 and KS4 History Super Curriculum.

Click here to access the KS5 History Super Curriculum.

Careers

Many of our students go on to study History and related subjects at university as History is regarded as a difficult and well respected subject which requires a degree of intellectual ability. However our former students also enter other fields including Banking, the Civil Service, journalism, the Law, politics, education and the arts.

Career Ideas: academic research, archivist, heritage management, historic buildings work, conservation, museum/gallery work, teaching/lecturing, archaeology, academic librarian, journalism, law, civil service, publishing & editing, human resources, information officer, marketing, politics and much more.

Click here to find out more about careers in History.