History

The team consists of five full-time and two part-time members of staff, who teach in the main School building near to the History Office. All members of the department have their own teaching room. 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 eight sets at GCSE and two sets for both A/S and A2 Level.

At present the department teaches Roman History and Medieval Realms in Year 7, Tudors and Stuarts through to the Industrial Revolution in Year 8, 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 four sets at AS level, when boys study the 'Rise of Fascism and Nazism in Europe', and 'Life in Nazi Germany up to 1939'. For A2, there are three 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 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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