History

The department at QE strongly advocates the view that the study of history is vital for the development of grounded, reflective and informed human beings. It is committed to producing knowledgeable, thoughtful and intellectually curious students.

The team consists of four full-time and one part-time member of staff, as well as one GTP student. All staff teach in the main school building. The department has a wide range of resources, including interactive electronic whiteboards and internet-enabled desktops in all classrooms, DVDs, laptop computers and a large book stock. There is an expanding bank of ICT material and learning resources, something the successful applicant will be expected to develop further. All members of the department are encouraged to share teaching resources and best practice. History teachers can and do teach across the school's age range from 11 to 18. In some cases, they also teach one other subject, usually politics, sociology, games or 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 four sets in each year at GCSE and three sets in each year at A-level.

At present the department is developing new schemes of work for KS3 with the aim of giving pupils a more secure grounding in the 'big picture' of British, European and World history, while also developing their historical skills and conceptual understanding in a progressive and thorough way. At GCSE, pupils take Edexcel Modern World History, Syllabus A. Modules include 'Peace and War: International Relations 1900-1991'; 'The USA, 1919-41'; 'A divided union? The USA 1945-70' and 'Change in British Society, 1955-75'.

At AS level, in line with the Edexcel 2008 A-level course, boys focus on the rise of fascism in Europe and 19th century British political history. At A2 coursework is completed on 100 years of Russian history from 1856 to 1964, and boys are examined on international relations from 1944 to 1990.

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. Oxbridge applicants are given special support through a regular programme in Years 12 and 13 and often enter college essay 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 Hampton Court
• Year 9 to Ypres & The Somme
• Year 12/13 study conferences in London

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