Year 11 History

History aims to stimulate an interest in and an enthusiasm for learning about the past. We want to ensure that students' knowledge of contemporary society is grounded in an understanding of the past. In History, students read a range of source material, learning to interpret information with discrimination and insight.

Students develop their communication skills, learning to express themselves effectively for different purposes. Key historical concepts such as cause and consequence, change and continuity, and similarity and difference, as well as investigation, analysis, and evaluation of source material, are developed.

History provides a broad foundation of knowledge and skills for a wide range of university courses and careers.

The Year 11 History course for 2026 takes you inside the movements, events, and conflicts that shaped both Aotearoa New Zealand and the wider world. You will explore Protest Movements in the USA, focusing on the Black Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, and connect these struggles to contemporary events and ongoing fights for equality. In New Zealand, you will examine landmark moments of protest, including Bastion Point, the Māori Land March, the 1981 Springbok Tour, and the Dawn Raids of the 1970s, analysing how these movements challenged injustice and changed the nation. The course also investigates New Zealand’s involvement in World War One and World War Two, exploring the impact of global conflict on soldiers, families, and society at home. This course develops research, source analysis, and critical thinking skills while deepening your understanding of the powerful forces of protest, war, and social change.