History
Head of Department: Mr M Axton
History is a fascinating subject, as it informs students who they are, and provides an understanding of their identity. It helps to fire a curiosity about the past in Britain and the rest of the world. Students will learn how the past influences the present and the future. As they learn, students will develop a chronological framework on which knowledge of significant events and people may be developed. What they learn will clearly influence their decisions, choices in life, attitudes and values.
History is exciting, students being highly motivated to learn more about events through their own research, through assessment of evidence and through a debate of their points of view. All of these skills are so important in adult life.
Key Stage 3
Students will learn historical interpretation, effective evaluation, and an appreciation of the importance of sources. They will learn how to organise and gain the confidence to communicate their knowledge through verbal comment and written work.
In Year 7, we study The Roman Empire and Medieval Britain 1066-1500. Students have the opportunity to visit the Roman Baths in Bath to supplement classwork.
in Year 8, students learn about Britain between 1500-1900 and World Study of North American Indians. We arrange for students to take part in visits to key historical sites to support this work - for example The Tower of London or Hampton Court Palace.
Our Year 9 syllabus covers the History of the 20th Century. During this year students will start to prepare projects through individual study, in relation to the Titanic Disaster and the two World Wars. Visits for Year 9 may include tours of the World War One battlefield sites.
Key Stage 4
GCSE Students prepare for three modules. The first is a Schools History Project study on Medicine and Health Through Time. This is our major GCSE project and forms part of Paper 1. The second part of Paper 1 is an in-depth study on Germany from 1918-1945.
The second module (Paper 2) is a source-based study of a specific period or event from Medicine and Health Through Time.
In Year 11, students start Module 3, coursework. There are two coursework topics. The first is our World Around Us Study on The Royal Victoria Military Hospital at Netley near Southampton. A site visit is made to the Royal Victoria Country Park, previous visits having included a tour of the hospital remains conducted by local Historian Philip Hoare, the author of "Spike Island".
Following the mock examinations in November, students start their second assignment which is an international study on The Arab-Israeli Conflict and Terrorism. Following this, students will then revise in preparation for their examinations in June.
