We’re passionate about trying to instill an interest in the past, whilst also helping students to understand how the world is shaped today.

Below are a number of links to resources available to support independent learning:

• SAM Learning
• GCSE Pod
• BBC Bitesize
• History Learning Site

All students can expect regular verbal feedback in lessons. Formal assessment of written material will take place every 8-10 lessons at Key Stage 3 and approximately every 6 lessons at Key Stage 4.
In Years 7 and 8, progress is measured through Key Performance Indicators, which are based on GCSE skills.
In Years 9, 10 and 11, all assessments are GCSE style questions, awarded with a mark.

Perhaps the greatest value in the academic study of history is its ability to ignite an interest in complex aspects of both the past and the present. It provokes questions and helps to broaden pupils’ cultural and social knowledge in numerous ways. As a core element in the developments of young people’s cultural capital, history is vital. Entering the adult world today without a secure understanding of how the values we take for granted – democracy, freedom of speech, the rule of law, to name just a few –  were fought for and won, would be unthinkable. Children need to have a clear understanding the sacrifices of the world wars, the obscenity of the Nazi Holocaust and the genius of the scientists, thinkers and innovators who improved our world for the better. History helps to teach pupils how to think for themselves and how to evaluate the claims and counter-claims of different groups in politics, business and many other realms.

History is widely recognised as a strong academic discipline and this is reflected in its status as a component subject of the English Baccalaureate. Pupils studying history develop a range of vital intellectual skills, including assessing and evaluating complex information, analysing source material, producing thorough explanations and developing reasoned and sustained arguments. Success in history can help to open doors to many careers requiring these skills. Those who have studied History are to be found working in industries diverse as law, the media, journalism, the civil service, politics and business.

In the history department, we pride ourselves on a broad range of extra-curricular activities that help to widen our pupils’ horizons. We run a number of trips from pupils across the different age groups. In lower school, for example, is our popular Ebblinghem trip, during which pupils spend a number of days visiting battlefields and other memorial sites of the First World War. For pupils at GCSE, we run a regular trip to Berlin, during which we visit sites including the Reichstag building; the Topography of Terror exhibition, on the Nazi police state; the German National Holocaust Memorial; the outstanding Jewish Museum of Berlin; and the Deutsches Historisches Museum. As well as enabling pupils to deepen their understanding of the events connected with these sites they also, of course, expose pupils to the modern culture of our European neighbours and help to make them confident with the idea of informative travel. We also run a regular trip to London to visit the Old Operating Theatre Museum and Imperial War Museum, to develop pupils understanding of the Medicine in Britain GCSE unit and the Western Front element of this course. Finally, we run a number of trips, such as a tour of parliament and the Churchill War Rooms in London for our sixth form students, as well as one-off trips such as our recent trip to Oxford to see the exhibition on witchcraft and magic in history. Students on the Oxford trip were also given a tour of Brasenose College, where they participated in a Q&A session on studying at Oxford.

Head of Department: Mr. D. Hester, B.A., P.G.C.E.
Email: dhester followed by @ng6.unity-ed.uk

Mr Hester studied at the University of East Anglia and graduated with a BA Hons in American and English History and MA in American History. He returned to the UEA and completed a PGCE in History, beginning his career at Iceni Academy before moving to Hobart High School. He started at Northgate in 2021 as Head of History. Outside of school Mr Hester is a Team Leader for Edexcel’s GCSE examinations.

Other Staff:Mr. D. Guy, M.A. (Hons.), M.Phil., P.G.C.E. (Head of Year 10)
Email: dguy followed by @ng6.unity-ed.uk

Mr Guy teaches across the age range from 11-18 and specialises in the Weimar and Nazi Germany and Medicine in Britain GCSE units. He has written and edited chapters in a number of books including Introduction to the History of Christianity (ed. Dowley), Fortress Press, 2014. Mr Guy has taught at Northgate since 2013 and is also an Edexcel GCSE examiner.

Other Staff:Miss. C. Gostic, B.A. (Hons), P.G.C.E
Email: cgostic followed by @ng6.unity-ed.uk

Other Staff: Mr. W. Lennard,
Email: wlennard followed by @ng6.unity-ed.uk