History teaches pupils many transferable skills such as critical literacy, essay writing and ICT, allows pupils to develop their leadership and collaborative skills through paired and group work and also develop skills of debate, interpretation and argument.

History offers an excellent and varied academic education and is particularly useful for careers in: Law, Business, Journalism, Media, Management, Civil Service, Travel and Tourism, Teaching.

History: BGE Course Outlines

In S1 pupils come to History for 3 periods per week on a rotational basis (1 twelve week block). In S2 and S3 they come for 2 six week blocks. The courses provides pupils with the opportunity to become successful learners by developing their research and decision making skills. They have access to a wide variety of resources and are encouraged to develop confidence through collaborative learning and presenting their work to others. Through the use of a variety of assessment techniques, pupils are also encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning and their learning experience is also enhanced through an interdisciplinary approach with other departments such as Art, Geography, English and ICT.

The S1 course provides pupils with an introduction to History skills which will be developed as they progress through the courses from S1 to Nationals and Highers. In S1 pupils learn about:

• The making of Scotland – In this unit people will learn about their own country, Scotland and how people and events have contributed to the development of the Scottish nation.
• The Romans and the Celts – pupils learn about the Roman invasion of Britain, Roman and Celtic lifestyles and armies. Pupils also learn about the religion and beliefs of both groups, and the contribution that the Romans made to Britain

In S2 pupils learn about:

• Irish immigration – This is a group based interdisciplinary task with the Geography department. Pupils develop research and presentation skills through finding out about the reasons for and impact of Irish immigration.
• Scottish Wars of Independence – Pupils learns about their own country and the reasons for the historical conflict with England. Through this they develop an understanding of the impact this conflict had on the people of Scotland.
• The 1960’s – Pupils learn about social and political change during this eventful decade by studying the impact of youth culture and the Civil Rights Movement in the USA. Pupils also learn about the reasons for conflict, and its changing nature and impact on people, by studying the Cold War. An analysis of John F. Kennedy’s assassination enables pupils to further develop the investigation skills that they have been building since S1.

In S3 pupils learn about:

In S3 we will continue to move through the BGE phase and introduce courses which will provide a framework for progression to National level courses in fourth year. The focus of study will be WW1 and pupils will study the following key aspects:

• Main Causes of WW1
• Trenches
• New Technology
• Attempts to Resolve the Conflict
• The Peace Process

 We then move onto a unit on Germany after WWI:

• Germany at the end of the war
• The Fall of the Kaiser
• The Spartacist revolt
• The Weimar Republic

History: National 4 and 5 Course Outline

 The Course

The History course in S4 will provide pupils with an insight into their own lives and the society in which they live. By examining the past, they will discover their heritage as members of a community, a country and a wider world. This will be achieved through the successful study of three units which will cover Scottish, British, European and World contexts. The course encourages the development of important attitudes including an open mind and respect for the values, beliefs and cultures of others; an openness to new thinking and a sense of responsibility and global citizenship.

Topics Studied

Scottish: Migration and Empire

• Irish Immigration to Scotland
• European Immigration to Scotland
• Scottish Emigration
• Scots Abroad

  British: The Slave Trade

• The Triangular Trade
• The Slaves Experience
• The effects of the slave trade
• The Abolitionist  Movement

 European and World: Hitler and Nazi Germany

• Hitler and the Nazi Party
• Nazi rise to power
• Nazi control of Germany
• Nazi social and economic problems

 Assessment:

Courses will be assessed both internally and externally, through end of unit assessment, end of course assessment and added value assignments.

Skills:

History teaches many transferrable skills such as essay writing and ICT, allows pupils to develop their leadership and collaborative skills through paired and group work and can also develop skills of debate, interpretation and argument.

          History: Higher Course Outline

In S5/S6 the History Department offers courses at Higher and National level.

Higher

At Higher level pupils study three units:

• Section 1: Scottish
• Section 2: British
• Section 3: European and World History

1.Scottish: The impact of the Great War

 Scots on the Western Front

• The impact of the war on society and culture
• The impact of the war on industry and the economy
• The impact of the war on politics

2. Britain 1850’s – 1951         The Growth of Democracy

• • • How Britain became Democratic
    • Why women got the vote
    • Why the liberals Reforms were passed
    • The extent to which the liberal reforms helped the people of Britain

3. The Growth of Nationalism in Germany 1815-1939:

 Reasons for the growth of German Nationalism (1815-1850)

• • • • Achievements of the Nationalists (1815-1850)
      • The rise of Hitler
      • The Nazi State