History

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The main aim of the History Department at FHS is to instil a love of the subject. We aim to make History exciting, interesting and relevant to our pupils whilst providing them with the skills required to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the past, and thus to achieve at the highest level.

History lessons throughout the school involve a large element of discussion and debate, and girls are encouraged to think for themselves as well as to consider and question alternative views when examining interpretations of past events.

The History Department is highly regarded for its enthusiasm, passion and commitment to the subject, and the pupils enjoy the process of becoming historians, knowing that they are experiencing the very best teaching. Over the past few years girls have achieved truly excellent results at both GCSE and A Levels.

All lower school history classes cover a chronological period that enables pupils to look at aspects of history at a local, national, regional, and global perspective. A lesson might involve looking at several types of historical evidence and sources, or choosing which historical interpretations are more convincing and why.

As an introduction to History at FHS, the course in the first year is packed with exciting and colourful events. We begin our journey in Baghdad during the Islamic “Golden Age”, and then go on to look at Medieval England, beginning with the Norman Conquest, and going on to study the ways in which power was distributed and the extent to which society changed. We return to Islamic Civilisation at the end of year.

In the Lower Fourth we concentrate on the key historical events and periods in the Early modern period, beginning with the Reformation in Europe and how it developed in Britain. Again, we look at where power was located, and also at societal changes, for example the increasing belief in witchcraft and how London was viewed by the people who visited. We also look beyond Europe to explore the colonisation of America, African civilisation and the evolution of the slave trade.

Students finish their lower school history journey in the modern era. The collapse of the British Empire is investigated by looking at the experiences of the people who lived in India and Kenya. This is followed by a very popular and detailed study of the First World War, and how women got the vote, before we turn our attention to the Second World War and the Holocaust.

By the end of three years, all students will develop a strong understanding of the skills required to be successful at GCSE level next year.

GCSE

History is an extremely popular iGCSE choice at FHS. Girls study the Cambridge Modern European & World History course and achieve excellent results.

The course provides a thrilling introduction to the events which helped to shape the modern world with topics studied in Lower Fifth with the focus upon International Relations 1919-1991. In Upper Fifth, our focus is upon Germany between the two world wars, including the Weimar Republic, rise of the Nazis and Hitler’s rule.

For coursework, one aspect of German History is investigated thoroughly and the girls complete an extended essay of 2000 words focusing upon significance.

A Level

In the Lower Sixth, the girls begin the two year course on 100 years of Russian History (1856-1964) and a British History topic, the War of Roses, which includes the great controversy of who killed the princes in the tower.

In the Upper Sixth, the two examined units continue and are complemented by an independently researched coursework essay with a range of titles associated with International Relations and Civil Rights in the USA.

The department maintains good links with a number of university History Departments and a number of our girls each year apply to read History in higher education including Oxbridge.

The History Department believes very strongly that learning should take place outside the classroom and given the school’s position in the heart of London, we take advantage of the rich vein of resources available to us.

We also run successful trips abroad for older students, most recently to Berlin, WW1 Battlefields and Russia. Such visits help the girls to widen their understanding and enjoyment of History which complements their GCSE and A Level study very effectively.

The department runs a Model United Nations Society every Monday lunchtime. Our students have attended conferences at City of London School and the American School, and have been successful in picking up awards at both.

The History and Politics Department is well resourced, enabling us to use a variety of teaching methods.

The Department has four full-time members of staff – Miss L Cooper, Mr P Glavin, Mr H Bollands and Miss Horton-Insch, who is also the Head of History of Art . Their collective expertise covers a very wide range of periods from Medieval to Modern History..

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