History
Introduction
Located in special rooms of considerable historical interest in the School’s fourteenth-century Abbey Gateway, we give pupils the opportunity to develop an awareness of how the world we live in today was created and the influence of the past on the present. We want our pupils to think for themselves and so we expose them to a wide range of documents, historical sources and opinions. We are keen to emphasise that historical conclusions are liable to reassessment in the light of new or re-interpreted evidence.
Lower School
In the First and Second Forms, we explore medieval history and early-modern history, situating England alongside wider world studies, such as Islamic Empires and African Kingdoms. We focus on key concepts such as power and protest, which enable to students to draw parallels with the modern world. We focus on critical thinking skills through source analysis and we encourage students to evaluate different historical opinions through debate.
Third Form
In the Third Form, we focus on the concepts of war, revolution and conflict. Students undertake thematic studies of Empire and Migration, and a study of Twentieth-Century Conflicts. A research project on the Cold War deepens students’ understanding of international relations, as well as improving their independent study skills and academic curiosity.
GCSE (Middle School)
At Key Stage Four, History is one of the most popular options in the School. We follow the AQA GCSE History syllabus and have chosen pathways that challenge our pupils’ understanding. In the Fourth Form, pupils explore the interwar period, focusing on why peace was not maintained throughout the 1920s and 1930s; we then tackle the Russian Revolution. In the Fifth Form, there is a 1000-year breadth study of the history of medicine, followed by an investigation of the challenges faced by Elizabeth I at home and abroad..
A Level (Sixth Form)
At A Level, pupils embark on a study of twentieth-century world history, focusing on British social and political history for Paper 1, alongside the USA post World War Two for Paper 2. Thereafter, pupils are offered a choice for Paper 3, with some choosing to explore the early- modern witch crazes of England, Germany and America, and others opting to delve into the medieval world through the study of the Wars of the Roses. Pupils also complete a coursework assignment which is drawn from their Paper 3 choice. The Department aims to encourage independent learning and critical thinking, and pupils are encouraged to read widely around the course. We run several trips for Sixth Form pupils, such as trips to London.
Co-Curricular
The History Society offers a broad range of exciting co curricular opportunities ,including design and craft activities for the Lower School and a History Podcast club for Middle School. In addition, the Department runs its own History magazine, called the Gateway Chronicle, written and edited by a dedicated team of pupils. For several years, this publication has been named ‘School History Magazine of the Year’ by the Historical Association. Finally, all pupils are encouraged to attend the weekly History Clinic, should they need extra support and guidance
University & Careers
Many St Albans Historians go on to read History at University and the department has had great success in securing places at elite Universities, including Oxbridge. Many different career paths are followed by our Historians – Law, politics and teaching to name a few.
Our own award-winning journal, the Gateway Chronicle, is published annually. It is researched, written, and edited by a dedicated team of pupils across all year groups.
Read the latest Gateway Chronicle here
