History is a subject which provides you with many skills. Any task or job that uses information uses skills that we use in history. Alongside that, history enables us to study some of the many fascinating and often brutal stories that have happened in the past. We use many different sources of information and make judgements on sources usefulness and how much information they contain.

Staff

Mrs N Mitchell

Ms A Catterson

 

 

Our Courses

S1-S6 courses are offered in the department

• Each S1 and S2 class attends History and Modern Studies one period a week.

• In S3 pupils attend 3 periods a week and follow a course which mirrors the National 4/5 course.

• Nationals 3,4 and 5 are offered in S4. All classes attend 5 periods a week.

•  Cfe Higher courses are offered in S5/6 and these classes attend 5 periods a week.

S6 pupils who have a good higher pass also have the opportunity to study at Advanced Higher.   They usually spend 2 periods in a teacher led session with several study periods in the department.

S1 – We follow 4 courses which run the length of the term and are assessed using written tasks.

• What is history – a short course defining basic terms and skills used throughout school in history. Once this is complete we take a look at the events of 9/11.
• Local History – this course is a chronological exploration of some of our local historical landmarks and some of the stories behind them, including Burghead Fort, Duffus Castle and Spynie Palace.
• Pirates of the Caribbean – a look at the real history of the Caribbean from 1670 to 1730 including some of the real pirates.
• Children of the Industrial Revolution – here we look at the role that children played in building the industrial revolution in Britain, including their testimony as to how they were treated and the pride they took in their work.

S2 – Second year follows a similar pattern giving pupils a wide variety of skills and contexts to study.

• The Titanic – In this course we study the sinking of this magnificent vessel and how it reflected the divisions in the society of the time.
• The Rise and government of the Nazis – Within this course we question how the Nazi party were accepted into power and retained that power.
• The Holocaust – a study of the persecution and execution of 6 million Jewish people during WW2 by the Nazis.
• Hidden history – a look at some of the groups that history has prevented from telling their story.

 

S3 – Third year students follow a course which mirrors the National courses in that it forms 3 units with a practice Added Value task.  This is done in order to prepare pupils for the rigour and expectations of 4th year.

• Mary Queen of Scots (Scottish section) – this course follows the tragic life of the Scottish Queen and her relationship with her cousin, Elizabeth I.
• Changing Britain 1760 – 1900 – a look at the period of the industrial revolution and the changes that it made to living and working conditions.
• Added value unit – our pupils work with DYW to produce and present a piece of work that can count towards a National level assignment.
• The Cold War – our final course in 3rd year follows the increasing tension between East and West during the latter half of the 20th century.

·         All of our S3 courses introduce the skills required by pupils who study history during 4th year. 

Our National courses are run at National 3,4 and 5.  They all cover 3 contexts. 

Pupils will study the Atlantic Slave Trade, including the capture of slaves, their treatment and the abolition of slavery.

Free at Last – The growth of the American civil rights movement in the 1950s and 60s.

The Era of the Great War-  looking at the impact of the war on Scotland from around 1910 - 1928. 

Within the course they learn a variety of skills as well as an in-depth knowledge of the three contexts.  They go on to sit an exam as well as produce an Added Value Unit which is also assessed.

 

Senior students also have the opportunity to study at Higher and Advanced Higher level. 

Higher students study the rise of German nationalism between 1815 and 1850, the unification of Germany and the rise of the Nazis.

Britain between 1850 and 1951, looking at all the incredible changes that were made during Liberal and Labour governments of the time and the rise of democracy.

Migration and Empire in Scotland, looking at the effects of the movement of people in and out of Scotland and the Empire.

Advanced Higher students study the Scottish Wars of Independence in depth, studying in a manner very similar to what they will experience in Higher Education