YEAR 9 HISTORY AT FARRINGTONS SCHOOL

Pupils study Expansion, Trade and Industry' and 'Twentieth Century History' (World War One and World War Two). Assessment is the same as in years 7 and 8, with the pupils completing specific assessment work throughout the year and with an end of year examination to complete the assessment process.  In Year 9 pupils get two 50 minute lessons a week, with homework set once a week. The

Topics covered in 'The Industrial Revolution' section include - why a revolution: textiles: iron: working conditions: railways: agriculture: town life: impact of the revolution.

Topics covered in 'The Slave Trade' section should now include - why a slave trade: the middle passage: life on a slave plantation: civil rights.

Topics covered in 'Twentieth Century History' shoul include - why WWI: trench life: consequences of WWI: why WWII: the blitz: the atomic bomb: consequences of WWII.

As much of the above is covered as possible, and as with previous years a variety of methods and resources are used. One of the biggest pieces of work tackled by the pupils is the work on 'Trench Life'. The pupils play the role of Jimmy Mann who has volunteered to fight on the Western Front. They write a series of letters or diary accounts as if they were Jimmy Mann to describe and explain conditions at the front and the changing attitudes of the soldiers. To help the pupils they are shown various clips from films such as 'All Quiet on the Western Front', 'Black Adder', and clips from various documentary films such as 'The Somme' and 'The Trench'. The pupils are also given a booklet of information on life in the trenches (trench foot: rats and lice: shell shock), as well as web sites that provide good information, both primary and secondary. It is then up to the pupils to use this information to write their letters, and to make them as accurate as possible through the use of specific words and phrases used at the time, and through references to real events and people. 

It is in Year 9 that I try to organise a residential trip for the pupils. To date we have visited Belgium and France to study the war poets and the trenches and Normandy for D-Day and the Normandy Beaches. The Department is also looking in to a residential stay on HMS Belfast in London, known as 'Kip in a Ship'. Below is a picture of the pupils posing in front of a German Gun Battery which was part of the Atlantic Wall defences Longues Battery).