History
'A generation which ignores history has no past and no future' - Robert Henlein
History is a very popular subject at St Mary’s. Our rigorous approach produces excellent examination results. This dynamic department aims to make History inspiring, challenging and meaningful. We stretch high fliers while enthusing and encouraging all our students. We aim to widen the experience of classroom teaching through visits to World Heritage sites on our doorstep such as Avebury, and teaching about local heroes such as I.K.Brunel. We use active approaches such as drama, role play and we are leading the incorporation of IT as part of our delivery of this subject.
GCSE
Nearly all pupils do GCSE. We follow the AQA GCSE History Syllabus which offers an excellent foundation for any future study whilst providing a basis for understanding the modern world. Our results are always very good at GCSE and we have a good take-up at A Level.
A Level
About half the girls in the current LVI Form study History at AS Level. Most will choose to continue with this subject at Advanced Level. Last year every girl who took Advanced Level History obtained an A grade. We follow the AQA AS Level History and A Level History courses. The A Level successfully combines Late Medieval English History and Tudor history with 16th century French History and 20th Century Soviet History. The AS course compares change and consolidation in England 1483-1529 and France 1589-1610. The A2 course offers the Triumph and Collapse of the USSR 1941-1991 and an Historical Enquiry Coursework unit based on one hundred years of English History from 1500 to 1600. This offers a considerable breadth of study of three cultures, together with a University style research essay.
Miss Judith Milburn (Head of Department)
