History

The Department comprises three full-time members all of whom teach from Year 7 to Year 13. There are two designated History teaching rooms and the Department is well resourced with textbooks and good access to ICT within the School. Facilities also include the History office where each member of the Department has his/her own workspace and a shared computer.

There are detailed schemes of work and lesson resources in place for Key Stage 3. These were praised in a recent HMI inspection that focused solely on the History Department. Students follow NEAB Modern World Syllabus B at Key Stage 4 and we are putting the finishing touches to Edexcel AS/A2 specifications for Key Stage 5 where students study Italy 1918–1939, Russia and the Soviet Union 1905–1941, and British Nineteenth Century Social History. History has proved to be a very popular option at Key Stages 4 and 5, and this enthusiasm is reflected in excellent results.

Key Stage 5 classes are mixed and the school is part of the La Swap Sixth Form Consortium made up of four local schools. Traditionally members of the Department have taught at least two Sixth Form classes each year.

The Department is involved in a number of foreign visits that are linked to teaching and learning. This year, students have travelled to France (Years 8 and 9) and Russia (Years 12 and 13), and there are plans for a Sixth Form trip to Italy. In addition, there are a number of opportunities for visits within the UK.

The Department fosters a friendly atmosphere of mutual support and cooperation that involves a good degree of sharing the workload of planning and producing resources. The staff are committed and professional in their approach to the challenges of teaching and learning in the School.