HISTORY

Throughout the school, History is regarded as an important part of the curriculum and as a preparation for informed citizenship. Methods include the traditional, but emphasis is also placed on the study of texts and the development of skills of interpretation and evaluation.

We study an optional GCSE, World History in the twentieth century beginning with the First World War and concluding around 1989. Topics include the causes of the Second World War, the Third Reich and Holocaust, the Russian Revolution, the Cold War, the United Nations, the Vietnam War, the rise of Solidarity, the work of Gorbachev and the collapse of the Soviet Empire. Analysis of source material is a vital part of the course, and we look at a wide range of written and visual material. There is no shortage of documents or video footage.

We welcome the new AS and A Level specifications as exciting developments in our field. They offer students the opportunity to study History at length and in depth, to develop expertise in a variety of skills and to acquire and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the periods studied. They allow students to study themes in History and to undertake an independent investigation, either for coursework or examination.