History

Third Year pupils on the 2024 Battlefields trip explore a trench system

Aims

We aim to:

Encourage children of all ages to learn about the past;
Help them to develop an understanding of the history of their own country and the history of other nations and peoples;
Through studying History, pupils can improve their ability to analyse, argue and conduct research.

Staff and facilities

The department is staffed by seven teachers and occupies six rooms in the Woodsmoor Building. Although we issue a large range of books, especially to Sixth Formers, we also have an extensive library in the department catering for all age groups and courses. The School Library has also acquired new stocks of books for Sixth Form historians, which are particularly relevant for the Historical Investigation at A-level.

Subject time per 10-day cycle

Lower school – three lessons and homework
GCSE – five lessons and homework
A Level – 10 lessons and additional individual study

History in the Lower School

First Year

The course begins with an introduction to the medieval world to set the context of their studies. We then explore medieval England, which includes investigations into power, religion, society and medicine during this period. We also investigate the impact of major events such as the Black Death and the Peasants’ Revolt. The year ends with an exploration of a non-European medieval kingdom or empire to help broaden their knowledge of the medieval world.

Second Year

In Second Year we begin by investigating the political and religious changes that occurred in Tudor and Stuart England. After we have studied the Reformation and the aspects of the English Civil War, we then conduct a project into witchcraft in Stuart England which forms part of our Science and Superstition unit. Towards the end of the course our pupils then learn about the origins of the British Empire and Slavery. This is consequently followed by an investigation into the impact of the Industrial Revolution. We especially study local impacts here.

Third Year

We focus on some of the major events of the twentieth century in the Third Year. The course begins with a look at the major impact of the First World War on Europe and then the impact of the Suffragettes on the Women’s suffrage movement. Following this, we study the dictatorships of the Early 20th Century in Europe a study of the history of anti-Semitism and the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany. We study aspects of the Second World War too. The year concludes with a study of Civil Rights in the UK and the USA, followed by a group project investigating ‘hopeful or disturbing history’ of the latter part of the twentieth century.

History further up the school

IGCSE

In IGCSE History we study the following key areas:

Europe and the world from 1919 to 1939, with special reference to the peace treaties, the League of Nations and aggressive nationalism in the 1930s, including the rise of Hitler
An in-depth study on Germany 1918 to 1945, including Weimar Germany and the Third Reich
An in-depth study on the Cold War 1945 to 1989
Coursework on American History in the inter war period, currently focused on prohibition in the USA.

A Level

A Level History is a linear subject. The course is divided into three parts – a Depth Study, a Breadth Study, and a Historical Investigation (NEA). The Depth Study is on English History between 1625 and 1660, including the reign of Charles I, the Civil War, the rule of Oliver Cromwell and ends with the Restoration in 1660. The Breadth Study covers a much longer period of Russian History from 1855 to 1964, which includes Russia under the Tsars, such as the reign of Nicholas II, and then under the communists from 1917 to the rule of Khrushchev in the 1960s. The A Level provides the opportunity to study History in much greater depth and pupils have the opportunity for greater independent learning.

Pupils also complete a historical investigation on American civil rights history. This extended essay allows the student to research an area of interest independently and to use a range of primary and secondary materials of their choice.

Please consult the Sixth Form Handbook for further information

Download the History Curriculum Journey (pdf)

Links with local history

Our curriculum encourages our students to make links with our local community too. We are always investigating ways to make history relevant to our students. This is often the case when we study the Industrial Revolution in Second Year. We also encourage our students to research their family history in lessons and also by attending Family History Club. In recent years there have been opportunities to go on trips to local sites such as Tatton Park with First Years.

Trips

The department has a long tradition of organising a comprehensive educational trips programme.

Fourth Year pupils pose for a photo at Brandenburg Gate during their History trip to Berlin

The department leads many trips and excursions, both at home and abroad every year. Large numbers of the Third Year participate on our annual four-day trip to the First World War Battlefields sites of Belgium and France every October half term. We also organise a large-scale trip every Spring or Summer term, either to Europe or the USA.

Sixth Form go on a trip to the National Civil War Centre to enhance their studies of the English Civil War and general seventeenth century history. We also encourage Sixth Formers to attend conferences and lecture days. Recently we have had a talk from the University of Leeds explaining about careers after taking a History degree. We also arrange talks from other guest speakers. Recently we have had talks from a Holocaust survivor and a survivor’s daughter.

Pupils on the History trip to the USA pose for a photo in front of a landmark building

In 2025, our department took students from Middle School and Sixth Form to the USA. This trip took in the history of three significant US cities – New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC. In 2024, Fourth Year historians visited Berlin during the Summer Term. Each trip has important historical and cultural significance and participants are always guided by local historians and many places of interest are visited.

Clubs and societies

We currently run a Lower School History club. This is a weekly club where First to Third Year historians come to take part in a range of history-themed activities. Activities this year include solving mysteries from the past and also making their own amulets. Another addition to our co-curricular activities is also the Lower School Family History club. This gives our younger students the chance to research their ancestry.

The SGS Historian 2025 writing team

Those in Middle School and Sixth Form also participate in the HA Great Debate, the SGS History podcast and also the SGS Historian magazine.

SGS Historian

A dedicated band of Lower Sixth historians produce a publication entitled SGS Historian. The publication includes a range of articles, reviews and interviews.

You can read the SGS Historian online:

SGS Historian Issue 1, 2016

SGS Historian Issue 2, 2017

SGS Historian Issue 3, 2018

SGS Historian Issue 4, 2019

SGS Historian Issue 5, 2020

SGS Historian Issue 6, 2021

SGS Historian Issue 7, 2022

SGS Historian Issue 8, 2023

SGS Historian Issue 9, 2024

SGS Historian Issue 10, 2025