History
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History is a very popular subject at Oxford High School, with large numbers of students opting to study it at both GCSE and A Level.
The Department aims to foster students' interest in a range of different areas of the subject (religious, social, economic, political...) from the Middle Ages to the present day, and to develop the wide-ranging skills of the historian. A range of different teaching and learning methods are used in the classroom, including debates and role-plays, use of a range of multi-media resources, and group presentations and independent research.
Events
Sixth Form History Prizes
It has been a bumper year for sixth form historians in prestigious national History competitions. We were delighted to hear at the end of the summer term that Olivia Elder had been short-listed and commended in the Vellacott History Prize, organised by Peterhouse, Cambridge, for an essay on Stalin. Over the summer holidays, Lucy Parker won first prize in the GDST Dame Kitty Anderson Competition for her A2 coursework on the ‘anarchy’ of Stephen’s reign, and Jessie Anand came second in the Julia Wood History Prize awarded by St Hugh’s College, Oxford, for an essay on the religious reforms of Archbishop William Laud in the 1630s. Many congratulations to all three students: these are very impressive achievements.
'Henry VIII Day' 2009
Henry VIII Day is not a national holiday. It barely even made it to the pages of the school calendar. But that didn’t stop OHS from celebrating in style as we marked the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII’s accession to the throne. Unsuspecting girls and teachers arrived at school to find every notice board in sight plastered with ‘HAPPY HENRY VIII DAY’ – the work of some keen Sixth Formers the day before. Assembly was a jolly affair, as we tried (and failed) to give the school a full account of Henry’s life without going over the 8-minute time limit. Staff played the historical characters for dramatic and comic effect; Mr Towne and Miss Welsford were a marriage of historical minds as Henry VIII and his ‘favourite’ wife Jane Seymour. We tested what the school had learnt at lunchtime with the first ever House History Quiz, in which we had a whole round devoted to the great man himself. After the success of Henry VIII Day, Sixth Form historians are on the lookout for another excuse to hijack the school – current thinking is the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, coming up in October...
(Jessie Anand, Year 13)
‘History at University’ Evening
The History department organised a new initiative in the form of a ‘History at University’ evening towards the end of the summer term. Year 12 historians from schools across Oxfordshire converged at OHS to hear a very distinguished panel (Dr Michael Collins (UCL), Dr Anne Mathers-Lawrence (Reading), Dr Alexander Morrison (Liverpool), Dr Magnus Ryan (Cambridge), Dr Berny Sèbe (Birmingham) and Dr John Watts (Oxford)) speak about the variety of History courses available at university and the way in which they can boost their chances of gaining places at some of England’s most competitive institutions. It was an inspiring and enlightening occasion, both for staff and students and we are very grateful to the six panellists for giving up their time to talk to us.
Summer term History trips
Year 10 students in the ‘Blitz Experience’
The summer term was a busy one, with three History trips. We had a super day at Windsor Castle with Year 7, who were studying the development of castles in the Middle Ages. The fact that the Queen was in residence provoked much excitement, as did seeing Queen Mary’s beautiful Dolls House. Year 10 historians enjoyed a day at the Imperial War Museum in support of their GCSE coursework on Britain in the Second World War. The Blitz Experience was, for many, a real highlight. Finally, on a very hot day in early July, sixth form historians spent a fantastic day in London in support of their AS and A2 courses. They enjoyed a talk on Tudor and Stuart portraiture at the National Portrait Gallery and a visit to the Tower of London, to see the ‘Henry VIII: Dressed to Kill’ exhibition. In response to popular demand and because they have studied 20th century Chinese history this term, had supper in Chinatown.
Year 12 students at the Tower of London
Staff:
Miss Rebecca Welsford (Head of Department)Mrs Anne Brazel
Mr Edward Towne.
Facilities and resources
The History Department boasts a wide array of resources to assist us in bringing the past to life. Up-to-date textbooks for every year group are supplemented by videos, computer programmes, access to Internet research facilities and an impressive range of library books relating to the subject. Encouragement is given to students to create their own learning resources, be they project booklets or colourful wall displays.
Curriculum
The History curriculum is diverse and offers students the opportunity not only to understand more about the history of the country in which they live but that of many other cultures across wide time periods. A brief summary follows:
Year 7:
English medieval history from Norman Conquest to the Wars of the Roses, including project work on the development of the castle; Medieval Islam.
Year 8:
The Renaissance; Tudor and Stuart England.
Year 9:
The British Empire and the Slave Trade; Britain from the Agricultural Revolution to the Welfare State; political reform in the 19th and 20th centuries and the First World War.
Year 10 & 11 GCSE:
At GCSE we study Edexcel (A) Modern World and European History. In addition to completing coursework on Britain in the Second World War, students take two examination papers:
Paper 1: 'Superpower Relations, 1945-90' and 'America - a Divided Union, 1941-80'.
Paper 2: 'The Russian Revolution, c.1910-24' and 'Nazi Germany, c.1930-1939'
Paper 3: Vietnam since 1939 and Britain and Ireland since 1916.
Following syllabus changes in September 2009, we will be studying the new Edexcel History A (Making of the Modern World) course. Students will complete four modules:
Unit 1: International Relations, 1943-91
Unit 2: Germany, 1919-39
Unit 3: War and the transformation of British society, c.1931-51
Unit 4: Government and protest in the USA, 1945-70 (controlled assessment).
AS/A2 Level:
The current Year 13 students are following the OCR course:
| AS: | The Mid-Tudor Crisis, 1540-1558 |
| Church and State, 1547-1603 | |
| France, 1498-1559 |
| A2: | Roosevelt’s America |
| Civil Rights in the USA, 1865-1980 | |
| Individual Investigation (Coursework) |
From September 2008, we are following the Edexcel course, studying the following topics:
AS Unit 1: Stalin's Russia, 1924-53 and Mao's China, 1949-76.
AS Unit 2: Crown and Parliament, 1588-1629
A2 Unit 3: Revolution, Republic and Restoration: England, 1629-67
A2 Unit 4: Britain and India, 1845-1947 (Coursework)
Extra-curricular activities
A number of trips are organised throughout the year. As part of their study of the development of castles throughout the Middle Ages, Year 7 students visit Windsor Castle, Year 8 students visit Hampton Court Palace and Year 9 spend a day at the Black Country Museum in Dudley. Year 10 and 11 students enjoy a study day at the Cabinet War Rooms and Churchill Museum or Imperial War Museum, and sixth form students attend lectures and gallery visits locally or in London.
Year 8 students having a lesson in curtseying at
Hampton Court Palace.
Fun at a Victorian Fair
Preparing to go down a mine
We also have an increasingly active History Society, under the leadership of sixth form students. This meets on an ad hoc basis to hear lectures from a range of distinguished speakers, see films/plays of historical relevance, and enjoy a range of historical activities. We welcomed Professor McCrudden in November to speak to Year 11 and 12 students about the 'Good Friday Agreement and its aftermath'.