History
The team consists of four full-time and one part-time members of staff, as well as two GTP students, who all teach in the main School building near to the History Office. Members of the department share the four History teaching rooms. We have a wide range of resources, including interactive whiteboards in four classrooms, videos, DVDs, OHPs, laptop computers for all members of the department and a large book stock. All boys have their own textbook. In addition we have an expanding bank of ICT material and learning resources, and an increasing number of electronic whiteboards. All members of the department are encouraged to share resources and best practice. All QE History teachers can and do teach across the School's age range from 11 to 18. They also teach one other subject, usually Politics, Sociology, games or occasionally RS.
Pupils are set by ability from December in Year 7. There are six History classes in each year at Key Stage 3. History is a very popular option in the School and there are currently nine sets at GCSE and seven sets at A-level.
At present the department is developing new schemes of work in Year 7 of KS3 to include the themes of Rulers and the Ruled and Empire. In Year 8 we currently teach Tudors and Stuarts through to the Industrial Revolution, and the two World Wars and the start of the Cold War in Year 9. At GCSE, pupils take Edexcel Modern World History, Syllabus A: modules include 'The Emergence of Modern China, 1911-76'; 'USA - The New Deal, 1919-41'; 'USA - a Divided Union, 1945-74' and 'the Russian Revolution, 1910-24'. In addition, pupils produce two pieces of coursework.
We have three sets studying for the new AS level, where boys focus on the 'Rise of Fascism and Nazism in Europe', and 19th century British political history. Currently for A2 there are four sets. Pupils study 19th and early 20th-century British History, including 'The Age of Peel, 1832-1846', and 'The development of Representation and Democracy, 1832-1930'. In addition, students study a historiographical paper entitled 'Life in the Soviet Union after Lenin, 1924-41'. Sixth Form pupils also have the opportunity to study for the Advanced Extension Award.
The department has a strong track record of boys going on to take History at degree level, including Oxbridge students.
Our learning resources area is widely used for History studies at GCSE and A-Level, and increasingly at Key Stage 3 too.
We offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities, including a History Club for lower school boys, as well as a History Clinic for boys requiring additional support. Year 8 and 9 enjoy an annual visit from the 'History Squad' - a rôle-play and re-enactment focusing on Tudor monarchs and WWI Tommy. Year 12 Oxbridge applicants often enter the Cambridge and/or Oxford history essay-writing competitions.
All members of the department are encouraged to take responsibility for at least one of the following annual visits:
- Year 7 to the British Museum
- Year 8 to the Black Country Museum
- Year 9 to Ypres & The Somme
- Year 12 overseas visit to locations such as Auschwitz
In addition, Year 12 students attend an A Level History conference in London.
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