The History Department at Penwortham Priory Academy encourages pupils to think independently and critically about people and events from the past.
Pupils will be taught how to appreciate different points of view, to develop their self-confidence orally and using written communication, to understand the meaning of bias and how this can be used to influence actions or decisions. We aim to contribute to pupils' knowledge and understanding of people in other societies as well as their own and how they developed and interacted over a period of time. Using a variety of concepts such as cause, continuity, change and consequence they will learn how actions in the past influence today and how as young people they can influence the world around us.
More importantly we aim to use a variety of historical evidence to show pupils they should look critically at the world and appreciate varied opinions of other. We hope to make pupils become young adults who are well balanced and perceptive individuals.
The topics that are studied at the beginning of Year 8 focus on the ideas, political power, industry and empire in Britain before 1900. Within this topic pupils are taught about the history of Britain and its wider world context.
Pupils will have the opportunity to visit local and national historical attractions that will enhance their learning and understanding of the work that is covered in the classroom. For example, Imperial War Museum North, Thackeray Medical Museum and World War I trenches every two years.