KS3 History Report Comments (Years 7-9)

History covers secure, chronological knowledge of the periods studied, explaining cause and consequence, change and continuity and significance, analysing sources, comparing interpretations of the past, and building evidenced arguments in extended writing that reach a judgement.

Below are 13 sample sentences for KS3 (Years 7-9): two strengths and one next step for each of the 4 comment levels (Excellent / Good / Developing / Needs support), plus a tip for families. They are a small selection from the 288 history sentences in the full pack. Copy one, then add a detail only you know about the student.

Jump to: Excellent · Good · Developing · Needs support · Writing tips

Student name Pronouns

Fills in the name and pronouns on this page. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Excellent E

Strengths

When studying the wider world, [Name] makes perceptive comparisons between societies and explains how they were connected to Britain.
When arguing for the significance of an event or individual, [Name] applies clear criteria and shows how judgements about that significance have changed over time.

Next step

Entering a history essay competition, or building a homework project around [his/her/their] own enquiry question, would stretch [Name] further.

Good G

Strengths

In local history work, [Name] can link evidence from the area, such as buildings and records, to wider national events.
Explaining why an event was significant, [Name] gives clear reasons and links them to its consequences for people at the time.

Next step

To build chronological knowledge, [Name] could create a timeline covering all the periods studied and add each new topic in the correct place.

Developing D

Strengths

With some guidance, [Name] can find evidence of the past in the local area and link it to national events.
At times [Name] can explain why an event was important, especially when given a set of questions to work through.

Next step

[Name]'s target is to use one relevant piece of local or wider world evidence when an enquiry asks how places were connected.

Needs support N

Strengths

With support, [Name] can link a local building or place to the period being studied.
When working alongside the teacher, [Name] can say why an important event or person is remembered today.

Next step

Using a timeline that covers all the periods studied, [Name] could add a picture for each topic to see how they overlap and connect.

Support at home

Asking older relatives or neighbours to share memories gives your child first-hand evidence to compare with what they learn in class.

How to write history comments for KS3 (Years 7-9)

Pair one period with one historical concept, such as explaining the causes of the Norman Conquest or the changes brought by the industrial revolution. Topics vary by school, so make the skill clear in the comment.
For source work, describe what the student does: infers from a picture, notices who made a source and why, or questions how useful it is. A next step can be asking 'who made this and why?' of every source.
Chronology often needs building in Years 7 to 9. Note whether the student places periods in order and uses dates and terms such as century correctly, and suggest a timeline kept at the front of the exercise book.

Watch out: Avoid presenting history as memorising facts. Credit knowledge, then show how the student uses it, for example explaining why an event happened or how far a source can be trusted, so the comment reflects historical thinking.

The four levels describe how secure, accurate and independent the learning is, never a grade. Excellent suits precise, perceptive work that applies ideas to unfamiliar contexts; Good suits usually accurate with occasional guidance; Developing suits sometimes, or with a worked example; Needs support names what is emerging and the help that works. Show the level through the work rather than writing the level word.

What History covers

In these comments, history covers these behaviours:

has secure, chronological knowledge of the periods and events studied
explains cause and consequence, change and continuity, similarity and difference, and significance
analyses and evaluates sources, considering their origin, content and usefulness
compares and evaluates different interpretations of the past
builds well-structured, evidenced arguments in extended writing and reaches a supported judgement

More UK secondary subjects comments

How these sentences were made, and what has been checked: About these comments.