History

History Department

Departmental Staff List

Mrs S Kinney (Head of Department)

Mrs P Ewings

Mrs C McDonnell

Departmental Statement:

History is an extremely popular and thriving subject in St Killian’s College with many students choosing to study it at both GCSE and A Level.  Within the history department we believe that the study of history should be interesting, relevant, accessible to all abilities and fun.  History is the story of great men and women; it is the story of good and evil; it is the story of the famous, the infamous and the unknown. History informs students of how the past shapes the present. Through the study of history in St Killian’s College students are encouraged to respect, value and celebrate their own culture and those of others.

 

What do we study?
Key Stage 3

Year 8

  • What is History?
  • Local Study of North Antrim (from Ice Age to present day)
  • The Norman Conquest
  • The Normans in Ireland

Year 9

  • The Renaissance
  • The Reformation
  • Voyages of Discovery
  • The Spanish Armada
  • The Plantation of Ireland

 

Year 8 Archaeological Field Trip to Top of Carneil Mountain
October 2012

Year 9 (continued)

  • The English Civil War
  • Cromwell in Ireland
  • The War of the Three Kings

 

Year 10

  •  Ireland c1800-c1921
  • The Origins and Development of the First World War

Key Stage 4 (CCEA GCSE Specification)

Year 11

  • Germany c1918-1941 or Russia c1916-1941
  • Changing Relationships: Britain, Northern Ireland and Ireland c1965-1985 or Peace, War and Neutrality: Britain, Northern Ireland and Ireland 1932–1949

 

Year 12

  • Investigative Study: The Atomic Bomb (Controlled Assessment)
  • The Cold War 1945-1991

 

Post-16 (CCEA AS/A2 Specification)

Year 13

  • Germany 1918-1945
  • Russia 1903-1941

Year 14

  • Nationalism and Unionism in Ireland 1800-1900
  • The Partition of Ireland 1900-1925

 

GCSE HISTORY

OUTLINE OF THE COURSE

 

The study of History for GCSE begins with an investigation of either Option 1: Germany 1918–1941 or Option 2: Russia c1916–1941 .  Year 11 students then proceed to examine either the Option 4: Peace, War and Neutrality: Britain, Northern Ireland and Ireland 1932-1949 or Option 5: Changing Relationships: Britain, Northern Ireland and Ireland 1965–1985

 

Year 12 begins with an Investigative Study relating to World War 2.  The final module is a study of the Cold War which developed after World War 2 and continued to the fall of the Berlin Wall.

 

ASSESSMENT

There are two tiers of entry.

There is a higher Tier Paper and a Foundation Paper (maximum grade C award)

 

Exam Papers: Modular                                                                                                                                 75%

Paper

Topic

Time

%

1

 Option 1: Germany 1918–1941   or  Option 2:Russia c1916–1941plusOption 4: Peace, War and Neutrality: Britain, Northern Ireland and Ireland  1932-1949  or  Option 5: Changing Relationships: Britain, Northern Ireland and Ireland

2 hours

50

2

 Superpower Relations

1 hr 15mins.

25
Investigative Study:                                                                                                                                         25%
This is a study relating to World War 2 which should be completed in Term 1of Year 12.

 

Student Requirements to study GCSE History:

 

Pupils need to have shown an interest and aptitude for the subject at KS3.  At GCSE they will investigate the lives of people in the past by examining the evidence that survives.  They will need to have a sense of enquiry about the people and events that have shaped their world.  Successful students must be prepared to read widely and research through the Internet.  They will develop an understanding of the actions and motives of people and their societies and the skills to analyse and weigh up the arguments.  Communication is very important in History and students develop the ability to express their ideas both orally and in writing.

 

CAREER IMPLICATIONS

 

These skills are considered transferable and are in much demand by employers in a rapidly changing labour market.  There is a wide range of careers to which History can make a contribution.  Apart from the more obvious choices of teaching, archaeology, and museum work, History is a useful qualification for lawyers, journalists, civil servants, diplomats, researchers, town planners, and tourist and heritage workers, among others.