History

History is the torch that is meant to illuminate the past to guard us against the repetition of our mistakes of other days. We cannot join in the rewriting of history to make it conform to our comfort and convenience

Claude Bowers

History is a dynamic, challenging subject that tests students to the full. Not only do they develop a sense and understanding of past events but they learn important skills such as essay writing, developing balanced arguments and using evidence effectively.

The teaching of History encourages students to make sense of the present by (hopefully!) understanding the past and develops key academic skills along the way that are easily applicable to a host of other subjects.

We run various History Societies, including a group who produce the termly magazine ‘Retrospect’ which contains articles by students and teachers. You will find links to back issues of the magazine in PDF format to enjoy on these pages.

We have adopted a broad chronological framework for our teaching of History at Key Stage 3. We begin with the intrigue, excitement and upheaval of the Norman Conquest in 1066 in Year 7 and end with the tragedy and triumph of World War II in Year 9. Along the way we take on British, European and International History, giving students a sense of place and also of global perspective. We encourage students to consider evidence and draw conclusions on a range of topics, including controversial ones such as slavery.

In Years 10 and 11 we take the International GCSE course which looks at twentieth century world affairs. This includes looking at the world after World War 1, the rise of Hitler and the Cold War, as well as a depth study of Nazi Germany.

At AS and A2 levels we broaden our horizons further – studying diverse subjects such as 20th Century China, the Russian Revolutions and the History of Warfare.

Full details of the content of the courses can be found by clicking on the links below.

History is a popular subject at the school, with good take up rates at GCSE (iGCSE for History) and A Level. We do aim to bring our subject to life in the classroom through discussions and debates and we hope your son will enjoy learning about the various events, people, and changes that have led them to the world they live in.