Students are graded for effort and attainment in History each half term in line with whole school assessment policy.  Across Key Stage 3 students study a number of specific topics spanning the period of time from 1066 to the era of World War Two. Each half term they will look at a topic(s) which will lead to an assessment towards the end of that period of study.

For many of the half term topics grades are awarded based on the specific assessment task which draws together several strands of the work for that half term to generate a national curriculum level for attainment in that unit.

Examples of these in Year 7 are the assessment on the Battle of Hastings which looks at interpretation and evidence, and the murder of Thomas Beckett which deals with cause and consequence. In Year 8 the assessment on Slavery looks at interpretation, evidence and communication.  Conditions in factories deal with diversity, evidence and communication.

For the remaining topics attainment grades are awarded based on classwork and homework assignments completed during the half term, together with consideration of performance in lessons e.g contributions to discussion.

Achievement is assessed against descriptions of national curriculum levels of attainment (levels 3-8), with the level that provides the best fit with student performance being awarded for that half term.  Sublevels are used to indicate if work is at the entry standard for the level (c), secure mid level (b), or top standard for the level (a).