Our aims are:
- Excellence: we aim to achieve the very best results possible. We encourage pupils to be inquisitive and to take academic risks.
- Independence: we aim to encourage independent learning in all that we do through a range of projects, activities and speakers.
- Communication: our pupils are taught to communicate effectively.
- Enjoyment: the department is staffed by enthusiasts with a commitment to bring the subject to life by making use of a range of teaching techniques including role-play, visits and re-enactors
Why study History, what does it enable students to do?
- To be multi-disciplinary
- To analyse and evaluate many different sources of information
- To learn clarity and precision of expression
- To engender interest in the past
- To gain an understanding of other peoples and culture
What will you study?
At Fourth Form we study change and continuity between 1500-1900. Topics such as technological advances in the Industrial Revolution, political and religious change during the Reformation and society are investigated during the year. We will look at many events that helped shape the world today.
At Remove and Fifth Form pupils will take the Edexcel IGCSE course. This looks predominantly at the 20th century and covers diverse areas such as the First World War, Nazi Germany and the Arab-Israeli conflict. The aim of the course is to show the complex inter-linking themes that have created issues that we still encounter today.
In the Sixth Form they can opt to study one of two courses. The traditional course covers sixteenth and seventeenth century England and France. The modern course looks at twentieth century American history at AS and British and Russian at A2. Both courses are examined by AQA.
What happens outside of the classroom?
The History Society attracts a number of significant speakers. In recent years pupils have met eminent historians such Dr David Starkey and Professor Diarmaid Macculloch. In March 2011 pupils met three former director-generals of GCHQ as well as having a demonstration of an Enigma machine. There are also regular opportunities to hear experts present papers on A level subjects such as Professor William Doyle on the French Revolution in 2011. It is important also to bring history to life and in recent years we have invited a First World War re-enactor to speak to pupils as well as demonstrate trench life and weapons.
It is vital to be able to see and experience and for that reason we offer a number of trips and visits. In April 2011 Fifth Form students visited Munich and Nuremberg and we are planning a Sixth form trip to Paris in 2012.
What is happening in the Department?
Trip to Munich
News of 2011