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History

The History Department is always keen to get out of the classroom and bring History to life by visiting local sites and by inviting presenters to the school. At Key Stage 3, seven trips and visits are organised, all of which are fully integrated into the curriculum.

HEDINGHAM CASTLE Year 7 spend a day at Hedingham Castle in 1066.  They meet various people from Medieval society and take part in a range of 'hands on' activities that teach them about  music, food, the work of monks, castle defence and costume. They even get to play a medieval version of rounders!

ELY CATHEDRAL As well as learning about this beautiful Medieval building, Year 7 create stained glass windows, do clay modelling in the Lady Chapel and Brass Rubbing in the education centre.

KENTWELL HALL The Tudor recreations at Kentwell Hall are a once in a lifetime experience. On school visit days everybody is in Tudor dress, so with just a little imagination, you can really believe that you are back in the Sixteenth Century. Many aspects of Tudor Life can be explored and there are plenty of opportunities to get involved.

TUDOR DAY Re-enactors visit St. Mary's to further develop Year 8's understanding of Tudor life including dance, costume, make up, punishment, medicine, spying and life at sea.

HITLER ON TRIAL Year 11 witness the mock trial of Adolf Hitler who is accused of starting the Second World War. The evidence revises major topics for their History GCSE.

WORLD WAR I DAY Year 9 spend a day with a First World War infantryman, learning about conditions in the trenches and the role of women on the front line.

YPRES SALIENT Year 9 spend a very busy and emotional day in Belgium. We made pilgrimages to family graves and memorials as well as experiencing the trenches and laid a wreath at the Menin Gate as part of the Last Post Ceremony.

CIVIL WAR DAY Amongst the many Civil War related activities, Year 8 were put through their paces in Pike Drill, and were trained in the use of a musket.

KRAKOW As part of a combined Art and History trip to Krakow, members of Year 10 made an emotional and very memorable trip to Auschwitz.

CINEMA TRIPS GCSE students enjoyed a pizza dinner and trips to the cinema to see 'The Boy in Striped Pyjamas' and 'Operation Valkyrie'.

GCSE HISTORY AT ST. MARY'S

OCR MODERN WORLD HISTORY

The GCSE History Course tackles the key questions, issues and events of the Twentieth Century that have shaped the world in which we live.  There are two traditional style written exam papers and one Historical Enquiry which is examined as a Controlled Assessment. The girls will develop essay writing skills as well as the ability to analyse and evaluate source material.

PAPER 1

Germany 1918 - 1945 - Depth study

  • What problems did Germany face at the end of the First World War?
  • How did Hitler and the Nazis come to power?
  • What was it like to live in Nazi Germany?

The Inter-War Years 1919 - 1935

  • Were the Peace Treaties of 1919 - 1923 fair?
  • Why did the League of Nations fail?
  • Why did war break out?

PAPER 2

Change in British Society 1890 - 1918

  • The Liberal Reforms
  • Suffragettes
  • Britian during the Great War

HISTORICAL ENQUIRY

The Controlled Assessment will be based on the events and issues of the Cold War.

 

GCSE HISTORY RESULTS 2009

100% A-C

15 out of 17 candidates achieved A*

GCSE HISTORY RESULTS 2010

100% A-C

88% A-A*