Understanding the Past is the Key to the Future

The study of history opens students’ minds to the historical context of events today as well as to debate, discussion and analysis of those events. Freedom fighter or terrorist? National hero or war criminal?  The History Department helps students understand issues and articulate different points of view, with educational trips to make history real for them.

History has been the most popular optional subject at GCSE level in the College for the last two years.

Our Approach

The use of themes allows students to see the links between topics, identify change and continuity across time periods and understand the significance and importance of events. The students will be able to develop historical skills such as analysis, interpretation and evaluation of evidence, written and oral communication, research and presentation skills, comparison and placing events into historical context.

Key Stage 3

In Year 7 students are taught through a competency based course, TIM, which includes the development of historical skills and required content for the History curriculum.

Students study History as a distinct discipline in Years 8 and 9. The units of study are as follows:

Year 8:

Empires, Immigration, Technology and Warfare, Revolutions, A key figure of the 20th Century

Year 9:

World War One, Political Systems, The Holocaust, Women, The Arts

Every year we take Year 9 students to the battlefields of Belgium and France for four days, in what is the College’s longest running and most popular residential trip.

Key Stage 4

At Key Stage 4 students currently complete Modern World History.

Year 10:

Superpower Relations 1945-91, Rise and fall of a Communist State – The USSR 1928-91, Jack the Ripper.

Year 11:

Conflict in Vietnam c.1963-75, Nazi Germany 1933-39, Votes for Women c.1900-28

Students studying Key Stage 4 History are given the opportunity to visit Poland where they are taken to Auschwitz to complement their study of the 20th century. There are also various day trips including visits to Canterbury Cathedral and the Jack the Ripper Walk as an optional extra.

Resources

Department members are committed to learning beyond the classroom and enrichment and extra curricular activities include:

• History club after college.
• Revision classes after college, during half-term breaks and on Saturdays. 
• Interactive White boards, audio and visual equipment and internet access in all History rooms
• Wide range of History Text books and resource sheets
• Original source material documentation