History
Welcome to History
The purpose of historical inquiry is not simply to present facts but to search for an interpretation of the past. Historians attempt to find patterns and establish meaning through the rigorous study of documents and artefacts left by people of other times and other places.
Virtually every subject has a history and can be analysed and interpreted in historical perspective and context; the scope of historical inquiry is bound only by the quantity and quality of surviving documents and artefacts.
There is another reason to study history: it’s fun.
We aim to inspire and motivate learners to understand more about values, conflicts of ideas and how they can influence events by exercising democracy and citizenship.
From S1 through to S6, the department give learners the opportunity to progress from BGE through to Highers.
History Members of Staff:
- Mr Bell (Faculty Head)
- Mr Thompson
- Mr Kennedy
- Mr Louden (Principal Teacher of Pupil Support)
History Topics
Our Board General Education is delivered by each subject in the Humanities department. Every learner in S1 and S2 gets 1 period a week of History, alongside 1 period of Geography, Modern Studies and RME.
S1- Rich World Poor World
Africa Colonisation
The Slave Trade
Apartheid in South Africa
The Conquistadors
The Conquistadors in Mexico
Slavery in Brazil
America’s Indian Wars
The American Civil War
Slavery to Segregation
The Swinging Sixties
Why Study the Sixties?
Fashion and Change
Case Study- Mods and Rockers
Sport in the Sixties
Case Study- The Beatles
Changing Attitudes
Technology
The Space Race
S2- World War Two
Britain Declares War
Blitzkreig
The Battle of Britain
The Pacific Theatre
The Home Front
Operation Barbarossa
The Holocaust
The D-Day Landings
Hitler’s Vengeance Weapons
The Defeat of Germany
Victory over Japan
The Scottish Wars of Independence
Scotland in the Middle Ages
Life in the Middle Ages
The Feudal System
The Death of Alexander
Edward 1st Hammer of the Scots
The Norham Decision
Edward Invades Scotland
William Wallace
Guardian of Scotland
Execution of a Hero
Robert the Bruce
The Return of King Robert
Free at Last
S3- Revolutions
The French Revolution
Napoleon
The American Revolution
The Industrial Revolution
Life in Industrial Britain
Twentieth Century Turmoil
Europe’s Slide into War
Nationalism
Militarism
Imperialism
Scots in the 1st World War
The Russian Revolution
Communism
Fascism
The Nazis
N3/4/5 HISTORY S4
Aims
Unit 1-Scottish-The Era of the Great War 1910-28
Unit 2-British-The Making of Modern Britain 1880-1951
Unit 3-European and World-Hitler and Nazi Germany 1919-39
Added Value Unit
Progression into this Course
Entry to this Course is at the discretion of the centre. Learners would normally be expected to have attained the skills and knowledge required by the following or by equivalent experience:
History National 4 or relevant component Units
Progression from this course/Careers
This Course or its Units may provide progression to other qualifications in History or related areas, further study, employment or training.
Course Unit Description
3 Mandatory Units
Historical Study: Scottish
Historical Study: British
Historical Study: European and World
Course Assessment
Description
Internal assessments will take place throughout each unit of work.
There will also be an external SQA examination together with an assignment.
Unit 1-Scottish-The Era of the Great War 1910-28
A study of the experiences of Scots in the Great War and its impact on life in Scotland. This topic considers the impact of technology on the soldiers on the Western Front. It also considers the way in which the war changed life for people at home as the war began to impact on every aspect of life both during and after the war.
Unit 2-British-The Making of Modern Britain 1880-1951
A study of the changing role of central government in tackling the problem of poverty, considering the themes of ideas and rights and the development of new relationships between the people of Britain and their government. This is a study of the forces which created modern Britain.
Unit 3-European and World-Hitler and Nazi Germany 1919-39
A study of attempts to establish democracy in Weimar Germany, the reasons for its collapse and the nature of the Nazi State.
Assignment which is marked externally.
Component 1- Question paper -60 marks
Component 2- Assignment -20 marks
Total of 80 marks
SQA External exam. Time: 2 hour 20 minutes
N5-S5/6 HISTORY
Aims
Unit 1-Scottish-Migration and Empire 1830-1939
Unit 2-British-The Atlantic Slave Trade 1770-1807
Unit 3-European and World-Free at Last? Civil Rights in the
USA 1918-1968
Added Value Unit
Progression into this Course
Entry to this Course is at the discretion of the centre. Learners would normally be expected to have attained the skills and knowledge required by the following or by equivalent experience:
History National 4 or relevant component Units
Progression from this course/Careers
This Course or its Units may provide progression to other qualifications in History or related areas, further study, employment or training.
Course Unit Description
3 Mandatory Units
Historical Study: Scottish
Historical Study: British
Historical Study: European and World
Course Assessment
Description
Internal assessments will take place throughout each unit of work.
There will also be an external SQA examination together with an assignment.
Unit 1-Scottish- Migration and Empire 1830-1939
A study of the causes and results of the movement of population into and away from Scotland during the period 1830s to 1930s, focusing on issues of identity and community and on the experiences of migrants in their new countries or communities.
Unit 2-British- The Atlantic Slave Trade 1770-1807
A study of the nature of the British Atlantic slave trade in the late eighteenth century, changing attitudes towards it in Britain and the pressures that led to its abolition, illustrating the themes of rights, exploitation and culture.
Unit 3-European and World- Free at Last? Civil Rights in the USA 1918-1968
A study of the development of race relations in the USA during the years 1918–68, illustrating themes of ideas, identity and power.
Assignment which is marked externally.
Component 1- Question paper -60 marks
Component 2- Assignment -20 marks
Total of 80 marks
SQA External exam. Time: 2 hour 20 minutes
HIGHER HISTORY
Aims
Study 3 areas in depth, gaining an understanding of the important concepts which influenced the periods. Pupils will develop their skills of evaluating events by analysing and interpreting primary and secondary sources.
Progression into this Course
Entry to this Course is at the discretion of the centre. Learners would normally be expected to have attained the skills and knowledge required by the following or by equivalent experience:
History National 5 or relevant component Units
Progression from this course/Careers
This Course or its Units may provide progression to other qualifications in History or related areas, further study, employment or training.
Course Unit Description
3 Mandatory Units
Historical Study: Scottish
Historical Study: British
Historical Study: European and World
Course Assessment
Description
Internal assessments will take place throughout each unit of work.
There will also be an external SQA examination.
Unit 1 Scottish- The Impact of the Great War 1914-1928
A study of conflict and its political, social, economic and cultural effects, illustrating the themes of conflict, change and identity.
Unit 2 British- Britain 1851-1951
A study of the development of the United Kingdom into a modern democracy and the development of the role of the state in the welfare of its citizens, illustrating the themes of authority, ideology and rights.
Unit 3 European and world- Germany 1815-1939
A study of the growth of nationalism in 19th-century Germany leading to the overcoming of obstacles to unification of the nation by 1871, and the development of extreme nationalism after 1918, illustrating the themes of nationalism, authority and conflict.
Supported Study
Supported Study is offered to those pupils seeking additional help or even to reinforce their learning in preparation for exams. Also the Easter school provides extra support for upcoming SQA exams/
IDLs
The department collaboratively works alongside its fellow Humanities subjects and other departments in delivering and developing Inter-Disciplinary Learning.
In S1 pupils will study ‘Rich World Poor World’ across the Humanities department. The range of topics taught in History provides a relevant background to understanding the other Humanities subject contributions. At the end of this unit, pupils complete a group activity that ties together all of their learning across the Humanities department.