History is the essential foundation for understanding today's
world; it develops a whole range of useful skills and is a subject
well regarded by university admissions tutors and employers alike.
It should also be fun.
All boys at Bolton School study History for their first three
years; the overwhelming majority follow it to GCSE, at which level
we have an excellent record of results: since 2005, the Department
has achieved an average of 71% A*-A grades, with 76% A*-A in 2009.
Normally between 30 and 40 boys continue their studies to AS/A2,
where, again, our results are notable: since 2005 the Department
has achieved 78% A-B grades at A2 level, with 75% A-B in 2009.
Furthermore, we regularly tutor candidates for Oxbridge entry and
pride ourselves in having helped many of these boys win places at
their chosen colleges.
The Department features a blend of experience and youthful
vigour and this is reflected in the variety of teaching and
learning styles employed in our lessons; in short, we are happy to
use traditional methods where they work well but we also embrace
new teaching ideas and employ new technology when they can enhance
the pupils' learning, understanding and love of the subject. All of
the History suites are equipped with a range of modern equipment,
such as interactive whiteboards, audio-visual facilities and PCs
and a new History teaching suite, named the Hasleden
Room and specificially tailored to the needs of the sixth form
historians, was opened in September 2009. All members of the
department are also heavily involved in the School's
extra-curricular programme, from rugby, football and swimming to
the Film Society, "The Boltonian" magazine and numerous visits and
trips every year.
One benefit of an independent school is that, although we base
our work upon the National Curriculum, we are not bound to it
rigidly; this enables members of the department to share their
enthusiasms and expertise without the restrictions of state
bureaucracy. During the first three years of their School career,
boys will become familiar with a broad sweep of British History,
from the Norman Conquest to the Twentieth Century. At GCSE they
study the Edexcel Specificiation A for Modern European and World
History, with all boys studying a British unit alongside options in
Soviet, German, American and world history. At A Level, they
advance to the Edexcel specification, enabling candidates to
develop their skills whilst examining modern European and world
history in more depth; here units include: Italy 1815-1943; Britain
and Ireland 1867-1922; Germany 1900-45; the USA, 1877-1981; and
Russia, 1856-1964.
History is pursued outside the classroom too. All Year 7 boys
visit a splendid castle to bring to life their classroom work on
this topic; all Year 9 boys visit the Imperial War Museum North to
learn to use historical artefacts relevant to their studies; Year
12 pupils visit Rome to immerse themselves in their study of
Risorgimento and Fascist Italy; those Year 12 boys studying modern
warfare as one of their units vist the Royal Armouries in
Leeds and Year 13 pupils have the opportunity to visit Berlin.
We also have a lively and popular History Society which meets every
Friday lunchtime and provides a range of activities for those with
a love of the subject, as well as giving older students the
opportunity to experience leadership roles. The A Level historians,
meanwhile, publish a biannual magazine of eclectic historical
essays and articles under the title "The HistOracle". In the
academic year 2010/11 the Department will embark upon another
exciting new development, with the appointment of an "historian in
residence". Miss Helen Breedon from the Imperial War Museum
North at Salford Quays has been recruited to teach in, and lend her
considerable expertise to, the pupils on a part-time basis.
Head of Department
J W Rich, BA
Members of the Department
B J Armstrong, MA
Miss S V Burgess, MA
Miss C L Dickinson, BA
C C Joseph, MA
Miss H Breedon (Historian in Residence; part-time)