Creating Hieroglyphs and Broadening our Knowledge of History
28 January 2024 - Academic
The History Society meets multiple times each week, with around 40 pupils joining in. Each session explores a new topic, broadening the pupils’ understanding of the past. A recent highlight was learning the intriguing art of deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics.
Following a comprehensive crash course on horned vipers and twisted flax, 25 enthusiastic pupils were tasked with crafting their own cartouche, skilfully inscribing their names in this age-old language. The session proved to be both educational and hands-on, immersing our pupils in the rich history of Ancient Egypt.
Alongside the History Society and the academic subject, there are plenty of opportunities to for pupils to extend their history knowledge and learn something new. A level and GCSE pupils attend evening enrichment sessions, focusing on one topic each term – currently, it’s the Vietnam War. In these seminars, pupils engage with historians, examine sources, and share their own interpretations. Pupils also welcome guest speakers, contribute to history journals and magazines, and venture out on trips to enhance what they study in class. Recent history trips have included the First World War battlefields, memorials in Belgium and France, and key locations in Cold War Berlin. The broad History curriculum challenges girls through a variety of British, European, and world history. Girls learn to think, write, and articulate opinions analytically, and develop critical skills in evaluating texts and evidence. Work is often tackled collaboratively and through examining fascinating content from the past, pupils gain valuable wisdom about the world.
With this knowledge, many pupils pursue history or related subjects at university. In the Lower Sixth, we are delighted that nine aspiring historians are being mentored as part of our University Preparation Programme.
Mr Neill George
Head of History
Keep up to date with further news from Wycombe Abbey on our social channels.