History
Head of Department: Mr C.R. Pendrill
We aim to make History exciting, interesting and relevant to our pupils, and also aim to teach beyond the prescribed syllabus laid down for public examinations to encourage self-reliance and independence of thought. Vital skills inculcated by History teaching include wide and critical reading, clear thinking and the construction of well focused, wide-ranging and detailed written answers. History is compulsory from the First to the Third Forms. Thereafter it becomes an optional subject.
The department maintains good links with a number of university History Departments and around forty Oundelians a year apply to read History in higher education. The department prides itself on the success of its Oxbridge programme in helping students achieve places at Oxford and Cambridge.
The department runs annual trips to Moscow/St Petersburg (Upper Sixth), Vienna/Budapest (Lower Sixth), Paris (Lower Sixth), Normandy (Lower Sixth), Berlin (Fifth Form), Prague (Third Form), Hampton Court (Second Form) and Warwick Castle (First Form). We also offer occasional trips to The Somme, Paris, Normandy, and the Middle East, often with other departments.
History society meetings are held regularly throughout the school year. Speakers who have addressed the Senior History Society include Olando Figes, Niall Ferguson and Anthony Beevor: the Junior History Society runs an equally ambitious programme with recent speakers including Martin Middlebrook and the late Squadron Leader Jimmy James. Frequent trips are made to see speakers in London, and the Department runs its own Sixth Form Lecture programme in the Trinity Quarter each year.
The History Forum offers the opportunity for Sixth Form History pupils to present and discuss research papers on a historical theme or problem of their own choosing. Presenting papers and engaging in discussion helps to sharpen up analytical skills. It is particularly valuable for those hoping to study History at university, especially those candidates who face a university interview. Often the topic under discussion is not part of the A Level specification, and gives all those who attend, a chance to widen their historical horizons. In addition to student presentations, the Forum has also welcomed guest history teachers to give papers. Occasionally, there is a DVD presentation, and there is an annual Christmas Quiz.
The department is staffed by:
Mr A.J. Brighton MA
Mr I.D.Clark BA
Dr M.P.H. von Habsburg MA PhD
Mrs T.E.Harris BA
Mr P.J.Kemp MA
Mr M.J.Parry MPhil PhD
Mr C.R.Pendrill MA
Mr P.J.Pedley BA
Course Content
First to Third Form
Apart from the First World War, Third Form sets will study a variety of courses for the remainder of the year according to the choice of their teacher. Current topics include, the British Empire; Ireland and the Holocaust. At First and Second Form, topics include aspects of English and European History from 1066 to 1750.
GCSE
At GCSE level the course follows the Edexcel Modern World History IGCSE specification. Students study Russia 1917-1941; International Relations 1919-1939; International Relations and the Superpowers 1945-1962; the Arab-Israeli 1917-73 and Germany 1913-1939. The special topic choice is either Weimar Germany and its Challenges or Russia in Revolution.
AS and A2
For the current U6th, the department offers the Edexcel specification which has been adapted to suit the department's breadth of expertise and interests. Those doing A2 History will do their AS exams in the Trinity Quarter in the U6th, allowing us to teach more widely and encourage independent research in the Trinity Quarter of the L6th. A2 Units cover a wide variety of topics reflecting the enthusiasms of the teachers, and students can usually opt to study Medieval / Early Modern, or Modern History topics. We largely shy away from topics such as twentieth-century Germany and Russia which are covered at GCSE in favour of really broadening our students' outlook. The freedom to generate our own courses ensures that teachers are not stuck in a rut of prescribed topics.
For the current L6th, the department will follow the new Edexcel specification, offering four units to A Level. Broadly, students may be studying Medieval, Early Modern or Modern history topics. Unit 2 will be examined in January of the Upper Sixth year. Unit 4 (coursework) will be completed by the end of the Easter Quarter, and Units 1 and 3 in the summer.
In addition, students opting for the Extension history course in the Lower Sixth will complete an essay which is part of the Pre-U qualification, and will present their findings at History Forum.