History
We have achieved very good examination results in recent years. Several students have gone on to study History at university, including two who studied History at the University of East Anglia and the University of Nottingham (the latter achieved a First Class Honours Degree in Ancient History) and one student has recently completed studying History at Queen Mary, University of London.
We have also run several successful trips in recent years, including trips to the National Army Museum, the Imperial War Museum and War Horse in the West End. Two students visited the World War One Battlefields as part of the First World War Centenary Battlefield Tours Programme (a nationally funded programme to mark the centenary). In 2017 we ran a residential trip to Normandy with a focus on World War Two for Year 8 and 9. In 2018, we introduced a trip to Mountfitchet Castle for Year 7 and this now runs as an annual trip.
In October 2023, we had a successful trip with a group of Year 9 - 11 students to the World War One Battle-fields in France and Belgium. Students visited preserved trenches, witnessed the last post ceremony at The Menin Gate, and laid a wreath at the grave of a student’s relative.
We have also welcomed a number of Holocaust survivors into school to share their stories and answer student questions over the past few years. In July 2018, we welcomed the late Harry Bibring (aged 92) into school to share his story. In December2019 we welcomed another survivor, Ernest Simon. These trips and visits have all been introduced with the aim of supporting learning outside the classroom and encouraging students to build integrity and become decent citizens. More recently, we participated in the government funded Lessons from Auschwitz project, which enabled two Sixth Form students to visit Auschwitz. We look forward to taking part again in the future.
At Key Stage 4 we follow the Edexcel History syllabus and at Key Stage 5 we follow the AQA History syllabus. In order to support our students through their exam courses, we regularly hold intervention sessions and revision sessions throughout the year, and we pride ourselves on being available to support any student who needs extra help or answer any queries.
Subject Leader of Humanities: Mrs R Waters