Beaconhurst School

Senior School - History

Staff

Mrs Fiona Casey, MA, PGCE

Miss Jennifer Sutherland, BA, Dip Ed (Modern Studies)

Transition History

The course concentrates on the period 1066-1509

Topics covered include:

  • The Battle of Hastings
  • The Crusades
  • The Black Death
  • Everyday Life
  • The Role of Religion
  • The Peasants’ Revolt
  • Travel

S1   1509-1900

  • The Tudors
  • Everyday Life
  • The Role of Religion
  • The Agricultural Revolution
  • The Industrial Revolution
  • Travel

S2

  • The First World War
  • The Russian Revolution
  • The Twenties and Thirties
  • The Second World War
  • The Post War World
  • The Cold War

S3-S6 Courses:

Standard Grade

In History the syllabus follows that prescribed by the Arrangements for Standard Grade document but continues with the stated departmental ideas and objectives.

The chosen syllabus is:

  • Changing Life in Scotland and Britain 1830-1930
  • International Co-operation and Conflict 1890-1920
  • People in Power, Germany 1918-1939

Intermediate 2

The Intermediate 2 course builds on the skills developed during the general course at Standard Grade and offers pupils a change to further develop and consolidate their skills, either as a course on its on or as a progression to the Higher course in the sixth year.

The option studied is The Later Modern Period

  • From the Cradle to the Grave (social welfare policies)
  • Bismarck (the Growth of German Nationalism)
  • The Road to War

The topics are examined by end of unit assessments, which ask both essay, and source based questions.

In addition, candidates research a topic of interest and complete an extended response under exam conditions.

Higher

The Higher Still History syllabus builds on skills and knowledge that the pupils have developed in Standard Grade.

The option studied is: The Later Modern Period

The themes of this option are ideology, identity and authority; these will be looked at by studying:

  • Britain 1850-1979
  • Growth of Nationalism

These topics will be tested through a series of end of unit assessments and also in Paper 1 of the external exam.

In addition, a subject must be chosen to explore in greater depth. The topic for the special subject is:

  • Appeasement and the Road to War

The special subject will also be tested through end of unit assessments and Paper 2 of the external exam.

In addition to this, the candidates are asked to research a topic of their own interests, relating to the syllabus and write an extended essay under exam conditions in class.

Advanced Higher

There are a number of units to choose from. The topic chosen for close study this year is Britain at War and Peace 1939- 1951.

The course is an in depth study of the background and events of World War Two, focussing on The War from a British perspective and the aftermath of the conflict on the country.

Pupils are expected to complete a 4000-word dissertation on a topic of their own choice. This is excellent preparation for the independent research skills required at university. This is in addition to regular essay writing and handling more complex source work.

Extra-Curricular Activities:

Trips: Summer trips for TR and S1. Transition’s trip focuses on an aspect of Medieval life and in the past has included visits to Mary King’s Close in Edinburgh and to a Knights and Castles workshop at the Burrell Collection in Glasgow.

S1’s trips focus on Victorian Life and in the past have included visits to the Victorian interactive workshop at Scotland Street School and a day as a servant at Hopetoun House.

This year we are also taking a trip to the Battlefields of Belgium and Northern France. This trip is for S3-S6 and although it is being run by the History department, it is a cross curricular trip with the English and Modern Languages departments.