Social Subjects comprises of Geography, History and Modern Studies.  The Social Subjects department delivers courses at a variety of levels including National 4s and 5s, Higher and Advanced Higher.  Pupils will be encouraged to review their own learning at numerous stages of the course and to put their learning into context.  The Social Subjects Department prides itself in promoting Active Learning involving, individual, paired and team work.  There will be ample opportunity for peer, parental and self assessment as pupils build up a portfolio, based on methodologies which allow the same learning environment for each course. Social subjects reinforce excellent literacy and numeracy skills within the framework of an exciting and accessible curriculum. We support and challenge the young people in our department and have high expectations for them.  S1 pupils follow an Integrated Social Subjects course  called the ‘Moray Journey’ which allows pupils to explore society and the environment around them, pupils will then spend S2 exploring each of the discreet social subjects before choosing which suits their education development as they move onto the senior school.

Courses & Qualifications

S1 – S3

CfE Broad General Education

S1:  Pupils will learn about their local community with the ‘Moray Journey’.  This course focuses on settlement, industry and Branding Moray

S2:   The S2 course allows pupils to showcase the skills they develop with a Human Rights Day, a World War 1 Museum and an Earth Forces exhibition.

Further Information

The department offers the opportunity for many pupils to experience Social Subjects in action out with the school environment.  These include an S2 trip to the battlefields of Belgium and France, a senior trip to the Scottish parliament and an Advanced Higher trip to Berlin. There are also opportunities for fieldwork locally in Forres for all Geography students. National 4/5 students visit The Cairngorms, with additional plans for residential fieldtrips in European countries. Advanced Higher students visit Aigas field centre, near Beauly for a residential fieldtrip.

Certificate tutorials form an integral part of the department’s attainment philosophy and these are offered to senior students throughout the year.  Pupils in the junior school have the opportunity to join clubs that look at local heritage, debating and field work.