“Those who do not learn from History are condemned to repeat it.”
George Santanyana
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Overview
Though the study of History derives from the past, the History department are constantly considering the future. We are always looking to develop our approach towards teaching and learning, where students drive forward their own thinking and learning by challenging and developing theirs (and others’) opinions.
The History Department
Our main teaching and learning objective is to foster independent thought and a love of the past. We aim to develop students who are engaged in the world around them, who question and challenge the opinions that are thrust upon them, a student that ‘reads between the lines’. This is our understanding of what a ‘good historian’ looks like, and it is the type of student that all of our lessons seek to create.
Students are taught a broad range of Ancient, Medieval and Modern British, European and world history throughout KS3 and KS4, to study how a range of periods and people have shaped us as societies and individuals in the modern world.
The department consists of 4 teachers, each with our own areas of expertise and interests; however, our shared passion is the belief in the study of the past, and how this can make our students betters thinkers, learners and, moreover, better people.
Year Group Topics Covered:
KS3 Year 7 – The Story of Britain
- What was life like in Celtic Britain?
- How did the Romans change Britain?
- How did England develop in the Saxon period?
- How powerful were the Vikings in pre-Medieval England?
- How far did the Norman Conquest ‘transform’ England?
- How did the power of kings and queens change in Medieval and Early-Modern England?
KS3 Year 8 – Britain, Europe and the Wider World
- How was Europe impacted by the two World Wars?
- Why was the development of Islam central to the Medieval world?
- How did the Jewish experience change from the Medieval to the Modern era?
- How did the Israel-Palestine conflict develop through the twentieth century?
- Why did Britain’s role in the world change after the Early-Modern era?
- How has medicine developed from the Ancient world to the Modern era?
- How far did trade knit the Ancient and Medieval world together?
- How have different revolutions impacted world history?
KS4 GCSE History
- Learn how the Cold War was ‘fought’ between the Russians and Americans (1945-1975)
- Investigate the experiences of the German people under dictatorship and democracy (1890-1945)
- Study how the Norman Conquest has shaped Britain, from 1066 to the present day
- Assess how British society has been shaped by war, religion and key individuals over a 1000 year period.
You will gain valuable skills including:
- How to interpret and evaluate pieces of information (sources)
- How to communicate and apply your knowledge
- How to describe and analyse the key features of the period studied
- Critical thinking and problem solving
KS5 A Level History
Breadth study – The Tudors
- Henry VII 1485-1603, Henry VIII 1509-1547, ‘The Mid-Tudor Crisis’ 1547-1563, The Triumph of Elizabeth 1563-1603
- This topic will focus on how England develops in terms of it’s governance, foreign policy, society and religion.
Depth study – France in Revolution
- The origins of the French Revolution 1774-1789, The experiment in constitutional monarchy 1789-1792, The emergence and spread of The Terror 1792-1795, The Directory and Napoleon’s rise to ower 1795-1799, The impact of Napoleon’s rule on France 1799-1815, The impact of Napoleon’s rule on Europe 1799-1815
- This topic will focus in detail on the key developments that take palce in France in the build up to the Revolution, ending with the final collapse of Napoleon’s rule in the Battle of Waterloo.
Coursework Unit
In our coursework module you are given free rein to choose from 20 questions from over 2000 years of history. Just some of our different options are: the Greek Golden Age, the Fall of the Roman Republic, Alfred the Great, Viking England, The Culture of the Mongol Empire, The collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the persecution of witches in 16th century England, the fight for Women’s Suffrage, American Foreign Policy in the 20th Century, US Civil Rights and the Israel Palestine Conflict. Each option is fully supported and enables you to personalise your A level study and explore a wide variety of topics before making your choice. The coursework module will enable you to build up the independent research skills needed for all university courses with the support of your teachers. To see our full range of options, just speak with a member of the History team.
