Overview
In the History Department we believe that present day society, economy and politics make sense only as a process of development over time. Some of our aims with younger pupils are to make them aware of evidence, bias, progression, culture and heritage. As they grow older, pupils also sharpen their critical faculties and powers of rational thought, their vocabulary and understanding of concepts and events, and learn to subject their opinions and prejudices to the tests of evidence and rationality.
The First and Second Year mixed ability course offers pupils a broad sweep through time, including Scottish or local examples where possible. This begins with Early Man, the Ancient Egyptians and the Romans in Scotland during the first year and moves on to castles, Old Stirling, the voyages of discovery, Victorian Times, and the Second World War during the second year. The course emphasises and tests knowledge and understanding, and enquiry skills (for example assessing historical evidence.
Standard Grade courses cover modern history, namely Scotland and Britain 1830-1930, the First World War, and the rise of Nazi Germany. This year we intend to introduce Access 3 for less academic pupils. This will study the Scottish Wars of Independence.
The department teaches National Qualifications courses to senior pupils.
Pupils achieving good Standard Grade results will sit Higher. Those not yet ready to attempt Higher can follow either Intermediate 1 or Intermediate 2 courses. In all cases pupils work through 3 units - Britain 1850-1979, the causes of the Second World War and American history in the early 20t`' century.
The department also offers Advanced Higher History, on topics usually decided by negotiation between the pupils and staff, but typically selected from a choice of the Romans in North Britain, the Scottish Wars of Independence (Wallace and Bruce) or the American Civil War.
Staff
Staff
- Mrs Sarah Bellingham (Faculty Manager)
- Mrs Lorna Shannon
- Mrs Patricia Williams
- Miss Samantha Horne
Resources
Homework / Revision
Social Subjects Homework Policy
A note for Mrs Ritchie's History class (2.1): new topic is Scottish Wars of Indepence. This is a research project where you are required to find out the answers to a number of things:
- Question 1 - Why did the Scottish Wars of Independence begin?
- Question 2 - Who became the new king of Scotland?
- Question 3 - After a fall-out with the English, Scotland was invaded. What route did the English army take? How easy was it to defeat Scotland? What did the Scottish king do?
- Question 4 - Who took over the rule of Scotland?
S4 Revision
Pupils who have been unable to get into school should look up the SQA website for past paper revision and also should access BBC Bite Size. NB These websites have free content and you will find the links under "Links/Pupils/......"
