History

History is a very popular subject at the school, with large numbers of girls regularly opting to pursue it to examination level. Currently approximately 75% of year 9 have opted to pursue it to GCSE level, and nearly half the fifth form have opted to take it to A level.  The examination results have been consistently excellent at all levels, year on year, with girls from the school achieving scores that are in the top 10 nationally. Large numbers of our A level historians go on to read History at top universities in the country.

Curriculum

UIII : Anglo-Saxon Britain; the Medieval Period with focus on the Norman Conquest, the feudal system, the Crusades, Magna Carta, Henry II and Beckett and the church.

LIV: The Renaissance; the Tudor and Stuart dynasties; the Civil War and Interregnum; the Restoration and the Glorious Revolution. A cross-curricular project on designing a civilisation is completed in the summer term.

UIV: British 18^th and 19^th century trade, overseas expansion, conflict and empire including the American Revolution, the slave trade, and Indian independence. The political and social effects of the Industrial Revolution on Britain including Political Reform and the Suffragette movements and the reform of public health. The causes of the First World War, and the Western Front 1914-1918.

LV and UV: GCSE studies on Nazi Germany 1930-1939, the conflict in Vietnam 1963-1975, China 1910-1976 and post-war America 1941-1980 are examined by Edexcel. A coursework study is completed on the impact of the Blitz on Britain and the role of women during WW2, which contributes to 25% of total marks.

Years 12 and 13: AS and A2 studies are examined by Edexcel and are currently offered in two courses:

The Revolutions course comprises the English Revolution, the American Revolution and the French Revolution at AS, followed by a study on Elizabeth I, the English Protestant Revolution and the Stalin Revolution at A2.

The Dictators course comprises the Personal Rule of Charles I, the Henrican Reformation and the rise of the Nazis in the Weimar period at AS, followed by a study on Charles II and Germany in the Interwar period and 19^th century Britain at A2.

However, from 2008, following the national changes to the A-Level curriculum, the department will offer:

From Autocracy to Dictatorship: Russia 1881-1956, and Authority, Revolution, and Restoration: England 1580-1667.

Students will also complete a History Enquiry, a piece of coursework on a period of European History post-1700.

Extra-curricular

The department regularly organises a number of trips both home and abroad. Recently, it has organised a year 7 trip to the China galleries at the British Museum, a year 8 visit to Hampton Court, a Fifth form trip to the WW1 Battlefields of Ypres, Vimy and Somme, and a Sixth form visit to the sites of the French Revolution in Paris. Additionally, the Sixth form have also been taken to A level conferences in support of their studies on Elizabeth I, Stalin and Nazi Germany in London.

Clarence Leavers

Many Wycombe historians go on to read history, PPE or related courses at top UK universities and then move into successful careers in the law, media, finance, government and education. 

Girls’ views of History past and present

'The main reason that I loved history lessons was that lessons weren't just about learning the syllabus; the teachers also actively engaged us in different issues and angles outside it, whether it be parallels between
Henry VIII and Blair or reading about Hiroshima when learning about World War II. I really felt that we were encouraged to think outside the box; history inspired a lot of us to pursue other interests like philosophy or politics because of hearing about it in class. It was rewarding to be taught to think for ourselves and also be aware of multiple perspectives from an early age.

On top of that, the lessons were also good fun; there was a lot of laughter and as a result we all worked extra hard not just because we had to, but because we wanted to.  The teaching is also superb terms of developing writing technique and style, to be critical and analytical;
something that I have really appreciated since coming to university to studyhistory'.

Clarence leaver, reading History at Cambridge

Studying History A Level at Wycombe was so much more than just learning for the sake of doing well in an exam at the end of it all.  Encouraged by the very best teachers I could have hoped for, learning was never a matter of just absorbing information, but rather of engaging in fascinating, and often passionate, debates.  All three of my teachers were passionate about the subject, and inspired me with their unique and wide-ranging historical interests and approaches to the study of History.  I walked away with not only a pleasing exam result, but an in-depth understanding and life-long interest in History.

 Clarence leaver, reading Philosophy at Durham

History and Politics Society

The History society is aimed at sixth form historians and provides regular discussion forums on a range of topics with the aim of stimulating wider historical interest beyond the confines of the school curriculum. Recent topics have included ‘Why do revolutions happen?’  and ‘How can we explain the witchcraze phenomenon in 17^th Britain?

Facilities

The department has a suite of three classrooms all equipped with computers and projectors to enable pupils to benefit from the facility of presentations from staff and girls alike, images and resources from weblinks, videos, CDs as well as PowerPoint. The department benefits from an extraordinarily well equipped library section which supports and enhances teaching and learning, especially at A level. Text books are well provided for at every level and sixth formers can access the departmental intranet for further reading suggestions and activities for extension purposes. For instance articles from historical magazines/journals can be located on the commondrive and there are also links to internal discussion forums as well as external websites of historical interest.