United Kingdom · National Curriculum Attainment Targets
Year 8 History
Key Stage 3 History Year 8: exploring the transformation of Britain from the end of the Middle Ages through the Tudor and Stuart dynasties to the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, covering political, religious, and social upheavals.
01The Tudor Dynasty: Power and Religion
Examining the establishment of the Tudor line and the religious rollercoaster of the 16th century.
How the first Tudor king ended the Wars of the Roses and consolidated royal power.
Exploring Henry VIII's initial ambitions, his relationship with Cardinal Wolsey, and early foreign policy.
Investigating the political and personal motives behind the English Reformation.
A detailed look at the process and consequences of closing England's monasteries.
A study of how England became a truly Protestant nation under the boy king.
Evaluating the reign of England's first queen regnant and her attempts to undo the Reformation.
Looking at how ordinary people dealt with disease, the Plague, and Tudor medical theories.
Exploring the social structure, roles, and daily routines of people across different classes in Tudor England.
Examining key rebellions during the Tudor period, such as the Pilgrimage of Grace and Kett's Rebellion.
How Elizabeth attempted to create a 'Middle Way' to bring stability to England.
The threat posed by Mary Stuart and the network of spies led by Francis Walsingham.
The conflict with Spain and the reasons for the English victory in 1588.
The beginnings of English seafaring power and the first attempts at American colonisation.
The rise of Shakespeare and the importance of propaganda in royal portraiture.
How the Elizabethans categorised and dealt with the growing problem of the 'wandering poor'.
Examining how Elizabeth I carefully crafted and maintained her public image through portraits, speeches, and ceremonies.
A look at the homes, food, fashion, and leisure activities of ordinary people during Elizabeth's reign.
02The Early Stuarts: Tensions and Gunpowder
The transition to the Stuart dynasty and the growing rift between King and Parliament.
The union of the crowns and James's theories on absolute monarchical power.
A deep dive into the conspiracy to destroy the King and Parliament.
Exploring the 17th-century obsession with magic and the persecution of 'witches'.
The 'Eleven Years Tyranny' and the financial disputes over Ship Money.
The breakdown of relations and the immediate triggers of the Civil War.
Synthesizing the long-term and short-term factors that led to the outbreak of civil war.
Key battles and the evolution of the New Model Army.
Exploring the democratic and social ideas that emerged during the chaos of war.
The legal and moral arguments surrounding the regicide.
The brutal campaigns to secure the Republic and their lasting legacy.
The social and religious impact of the 'Rule of the Major-Generals'.
The death of Cromwell and the path to the Restoration.
The cultural shift of the Restoration and the reopening of theatres.
The last major outbreak of bubonic plague in England.
The causes, course, and consequences of the fire that destroyed the City.
Using primary sources to understand 17th-century life.
The birth of modern science under Newton, Boyle, and Hooke.
03Revolution and the Birth of Empire
The Glorious Revolution and the expansion of British influence abroad.
The brief and troubled reign of James II and the Monmouth Rebellion.
The invitation to William of Orange and the establishment of constitutional monarchy.
How England and Scotland became the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
The origins of Britain's involvement in the triangular trade.
The growth of trade with India and the foundations of the British Empire.
Examining the emergence of Whigs and Tories and their differing ideologies.
Why a German prince became George I and the rise of the Prime Minister.
The attempts by the Stuarts to reclaim the throne in 1715 and 1745.
New farming techniques and the impact of the Enclosure Acts.
Social problems and urban life in early Georgian London.
The spread of new ideas through coffee houses and literature.
A summary of Britain's position before the Industrial Revolution.
The harsh legal system of the 18th century and the use of transportation.
The first signs of the factory system and the use of water power.
Exploring the distinct social classes, fashion, and cultural trends of Georgian Britain.
Examining the growth of Britain's naval power and its role in global dominance.