History

"Students are very positive about history. They respect the subject knowledge of their teachers and find their enthusiasm for history very motivating." Ofsted

From Years 7 to 9 students study history, starting with the Romans and moving towards aspects of the twentieth century by the end of Year 9. In accordance with the National Curriculum guidelines, three units of British History are studied: Medieval Britain, Tudor and Stuart Britain and Industrial Britain. Additional units include black peoples of the Americas and twentieth-century world history. Historical visits to medieval castles, the Imperial War Museum and Yprès are arranged annually to complement classroom work.

Students develop the skills of detecting bias, evaluating source material and historical interpretations, forming their own views on historical issues. Students are encouraged to express themselves creatively and imaginatively in written, spoken and visual forms. By the end of Year 9, students are well prepared for the challenge of Modern World History GCSE, which builds on the skills taught lower down the school. The course contains a 25% coursework element and two written papers.

For AS and A2 History, students study elements of nineteenth century European and British History, examined by coursework, sources papers and essays.