History provides students with a perspective on the present through studying the past.  Students learn to develop skills which help them to select, organise, analyse and evaluate various source materials and to develop effective arguments.  These skills are invaluable in helping to make sense of information in the modern world.

KEY STAGE 3

Over the 3 years, students will study Medieval Realms, the Early Modern World with specific emphasis on Britain under the Tudors and Stuarts (circa 1500 to 1700) and the making of the ‘Modern World’, with emphasis on Britain 1750 to 1918.  The course provides a broad overview of the development of British and European History, while allowing the opportunity to explore some topics in depth.  The History Department is always looking to stimulate students beyond the classroom, and there is at least one visit each year which can lead to a piece of coursework.  Recent visits have included the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, the Black Country Living Museum and the Imperial War Museum.

GCSE

Students studying GCSE History analyse the period between the two World Wars as well as British History up to 1918. The course aims to give students a clear understanding of the major events that shaped the lives of people in the Twentieth Century. During the course, girls learn about International Relations from 1919 to 39, conduct an intensive study of Germany, Russia and America in the inter-war period and explore aspects of British History between 1906 and 1918.

Girls are tested via structured essays and source work in examinations as well as in their coursework. Girls are provided with an enrichment booklet which offers a wide range of suggested reading, films, museums and other relevants sources of interpretation.  We encourage girls to view relevant films and to make links, as appropriate, to current affairs. In February 2009, 45 girls travelled to Berlin. Click here to read about their experience.

SIXTH FORM

We offer two history courses, 16th Century History, focusing on the Tudors and the Reformation and 20th Century History, focusing on Russia, the USA and China. The two courses differ in content but not skills, and universities make no distinction between them. These two courses provide valuable transferable skills and have proved very popular with girls. The department took 35 girls to Russia in 2007 and is exploring a new trip for 2009.

The AS Level course has been totally different to GCSE and really interesting. We have looked at the Twentieth Century on a larger scale focussing on many aspects. The Russian Revolution and Communism as an ideology is one area that I am particularly interested in and I have thoroughly enjoyed the lessons.

I have developed many skills from this course including essay writing. I feel that over the course of this year, my analytical skills have developed and I feel confident with this subject. I am really looking forward to doing the A2 level.

Hannah