Year 7
Year 7 students have started Half Term Two in History looking at England’s very first castles. This topic follows on from last half term’s topic of the Battle of Hastings, 1066, as it was actually William the Conqueror who we can thank for Introducing castles to this country! We have looked at the different types of castles, particularly focusing on Motte and Bailey castles – the very first type of castle to be built – and the reasons why William the Conqueror built them in the first place. Students have worked really hard on this topic, reaching judgements on how effective these castles really were at keeping enemies out and the king safe! Students have even designed their own castle, making sure that they included features that would help to keep them safe from enemies attacking! Moving into Half Term Three, we will be studying the Black Death – One of the deadliest diseases to have ever arrived in England!
Year 8
Year 8 students have been studying the causes of the First World War. Students have learnt what long term and short term causes are and have given some very thoughtful insights into how long term factors, such as the Arms Race, Empires and Alliances might have led to the outbreak of war in 1914. They have learnt what key terms, such as ‘militarism’, ‘nationalism’ and ‘imperialism’ mean and have studied each cause and have reached judgements on which they think was the overall main ‘long term’ reason why the world went to war in 1914. Moving into Half Term Three, year 8 students will be focusing on the main short term trigger of World War One – the assassination of Franz Ferdinand – and the way that this first ‘modern age’ war was fought.