The department aims to help the girls to:

• Discover an enthusiasm for History by providing a diverse and exciting curriculum, and by offering opportunities to examine in more depth topics which interest each individual
• Develop an interest in the past, through the exploration of past societies and people’s actions, beliefs and values
• Recognise disagreement about the past by examining a variety of interpretations of events and people
• Understand their present in the context of their past by highlighting the roots in History of contemporary events
• Appreciate the nature and cultural roots of both their own and different societies, and to see shared beliefs and influences
• Use a wide variety of sources of evidence to find out about the past
• Through visiting historical sites, have concern for and interest in their heritage
• Develop key skills which are crucial to the study of History but also essential for academic success:

  - To read with a questioning and critical mind
  - To express themselves fluently, both in oral and written communication
  - To use their knowledge to create balanced arguments and participate confidently in debate
  - To undertake personal research work
  

Brief summary of the topics in the Senior School:

• History skills
• Enquiry: Richard III:
Medieval Realms: Britain 1066-1500 Topics include:
• Why did the Normans win the Battle of Hasting?
• How did the Normans keep control?
• Building your own castle (model making)
• Medieval life
• Who rules? The Crown Vs the Church, the State and the people
• England abroad
Native Peoples of North America (project work, linked with Art) Topics include:
• The first Americans
• Different lifestyles
• Invaders
• Death of a people

• What was the Renaissance?
• When and where did it happen?
• What influenced it?
• Evidence of the Renaissance: affects on art, architecture and science
• Significant figures of the Renaissance
The Making of the United Kingdom: 1500-1750 Topics include:
• Establishing a dynasty: the Tudors
• The Reformation Rollercoaster
• The impact of Elizabeth I
• The Stuarts
• Civil War
The French Revolution Topics include:
• Reasons to revolt
• Action! The storming of the Bastille
• Off with their heads! What to do with the King?
• The Terror
• Significant figures
• Napoleonic France: was the Revolution a success or failure?
• Legacy of the Revolution

• Revolutions: agriculture, industry and transport
• Protest and Reform: social, economic and political
• Rights and freedoms: slavery, Black civil rights, Anti-Semitism
• The nature of warfare: causes of war, changes in warfare, the civilian experience

Year 10 and 11 – The Making of the Modern World, Edexcel GCSE in History A
The course comprises four units, three externally examined (Units 1, 2 and 3) and one controlled assessment (Unit 4). Each unit is worth 25% of the final GCSE mark.

Unit 1: Peace and War: International Relations 1900-1939

• Why did war break out? International rivalry 1900-14
• The peace settlement 1918-28
• Why did war break out? International relations 1929-39

Unit 2: Modern World Depth Study

• Russia 1917-39

Unit 3: Modern World Source Enquiry

• A divided union? The USA 1945-70

Unit 4: Representations of History

• The impact of war on Britain c1914-c1950