History at TBS aims to provide students with a wide range of transferable skills alongside a deep knowledge of world history that will help them to answer the question ‘why is the world like it is today?’. In Key Stage 3 we focus in particular on developing critical thinking and investigative skills that will serve students well into adulthood.
Year 7 students have been investigating the Mongol empire in the 13th century. This has been part of a comparative study of life in different medieval societies. They have previously studied Europe, the Crusades and Japan. They ended their study of the Mongols with an assessment of their legacy, writing a KS3 textbook section.
Year 8 have spent the year so far doing a thematic study of exploitation and revolution. They’ve looked at the Renaissance, Slavery, the French Revolution, the Haitian Revolution and Empire. Students have been evaluating the links between these different examples of rebellion and revolution, and have considered the long shadows different events and atrocities have been cast all the way to the modern day.
Year 9 students have been examining the turbulent 20th Century, focusing on the theme of struggles. They have looked at the intertwined causes and consequences of the first and second world wars. Most recently they have been reflecting on the topic of genocide – investigating the holocaust and the sobering realisation that “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.”
In the upper school our GCSE and A-Level students are currently doing their exams. Please join me in wishing them the very best of luck!
Thank you for reading our department’s spotlight. There have been some significant changes in approach and curriculum in history over the past couple of years, and we would be very grateful for any feedback you might have, or indeed any questions. If you’d like to get in touch please feel free to email us.
Regards,
