Subjects: Humanities (History; Geography; Classics; Religion & Philosophy)

The History Department has three full time specialists who teach throughout the school, assisted at KS3 by Humanities staff experienced in History teaching. The Department is led by Dr Alex Kolaczkowski and Mrs Anne Ockwell as Joint Heads, both of whom have considerable experience of research as well as teaching at all levels. Mr James McArthur, the third full time specialist, also has wide experience of teaching, both in Britain and in the Netherlands.

History in the Senior School is very popular as it is stimulating, challenging and fascinating, enabling our students to broaden their understanding of vital current concerns of identity and heritage. Students are encouraged to think critically, weigh evidence and construct compelling and logical arguments.

KS3 students all gain an understanding of British History from Medieval to Modern times. In Year 7 the main themes of Medieval History are covered: the power of the King, the Feudal System, the power of the Church and life in the village. Year 8 continues with a study of the Tudor and Stuart periods, covering the impact of the Renaissance and the Reformation, the growth of parliamentary power, the Civil War, the Restoration and the Glorious Revolution. Year 9 brings KS3 studies up to the twentieth century. The Autumn Term begins with a study of the growth of power in imperial Britain, the onset of Industrial Revolution and the emerging working class struggle for power. In the Spring Term a consideration of the causes of World War I is followed by introductory studies of the war on the Western Front, the peace with Germany, an introduction to the rise of the dictators and an overview of the significance of World War II.

In Years 10 and 11 History is an optional subject, but is chosen by the great majority of students. We follow the AQA Modern World History GCSE course which includes studies of Germany and Russia, international politics in the 1930s and the Cold War. Coursework, based on the twentieth century wartime experiences of the British, will be undertaken in the Autumn Term of Year 11 and constitute 25% of the GCSE score. This course allows not only historical understanding but also provides a vital political grounding for students and considerable development of their written style.

Visits often feature within the Senior School programme to enrich the students' historical experience e.g. day visits to historical sites, and also residential trips during Activities Week in the Summer Term. A recent visit to Granada provided an invaluable platform for A Level studies, as Spanish history features strongly in the sixteenth century courses.

Geography

Years 7-9

In the early years we address a wide range of topics designed to enthuse you with the subject and give you the confidence to take the subject on for GCSE and beyond.

In year 7 we look at rivers and how they dramatically change the landscape around us. We look at how rivers affect us and particularly focus on the impacts of devastating flooding on people's lives in this country as well as in poorer places. You will be set challenges like working out the best ways to protect places from floods, and try to work out why a camera can be a very useful thing in a flood. Later in the year we focus on Bath and look at how the city has grown and particularly at the problems traffic causes.

In year 8 we look at how and why climates differ around the world. You will spend some time looking at the special environments in rainforests and the people who live in them. You will play a game where you have to decide the future for a section of rainforest, but be careful, if you make the wrong decision you could end up on a mess! You will get a chance to visit Bristol Zoo to learn about animal adaptation and conservation. We also study about the unique and unusual environment in Antarctica.

In year 9 we study why some countries are so rich while others are very poor. We discuss if such an unequal world is fair and what can be done about it. You get the chance to be president of an African country to see if you can do a better job. We learn about how world trade works by playing a game where you trade with other countries and see what difficulties develop. We also study volcanoes and earthquakes and you get the chance to make your own mini film documentary about the impacts of an eruption and work out what can be done to survive and earthquake.

Years 10-11 GCSE

Geography is a great subject choice at GCSE. We follow the Edecxel B course. Our students really enjoy the subject and show a passion for learning about new places. The class form a strong team spirit, partly though the adventure of going away on our residential fieldtrip. In year 10 you will get the chance to attend a two or three day trip to a Field Study Centre in the UK. Currently we go to the magnificent Nettlecombe Court in North Devon. Students use this information to write up their controlled assessment coursework piece of about 2,000 words.

You will learn about how the world's population is changing and how countries try to control the numbers of people they have. We look at natural hazards including volcanoes and earthquakes and what impacts they have had on places. We study the impacts of our use of coal and oil and look at how we can produce electricity in a more environmentally friendly way. We discuss whether tourists have a right to visit anywhere in the world and whether ecotourism is a good idea. We look at river and coasts and how we can try to control them.

Classics

The Head of Department is Dr Mark Golder and the second-in-the department is Mrs Hanna Prynne.  Both of them teach in Years 8-9 (Key Stage 3) and Years 10-11 (Key Stage 4). 

In Year 8, the expectation is that all students will be introduced to Latin via Book 1 of the ‘Cambridge Latin Course'.  This involves a study of Pompeii, so that by translation, comprehension and the learning of vocabulary and grammar the student gains an insight into Roman life and language.  There are tests at the end of each chapter.  These are the key means for charting progress.

In Year 9, those who have been achieving good marks in their Latin (c. 80%, but this can ‘see-saw' from year to year) continue onto Book 2 of the ‘Cambridge Latin Course'.  Using Roman Britain as the theme, this year prepares the students for GCSE Latin by providing more grammar and vocabulary, and harder translations and comprehensions. 

Those who have been struggling in Year 8 are able to do Classical Civilisation in Year 9.  This involves the study of ancient Greek religion, theatre and home life.  This introduces students to the kind of material they might study if they chose to go onto GCSE Classical Civilisation.

Two Classical subjects are offered as options in Year 10.  There is OCR Latin (for which one does need to have a prior knowledge of the language) and there is OCR Classical Civilisation (which one can do ‘from scratch' and which appeals to some of the Year 9 Latinists who wish to study the ancient world, but without the language element).  The Controlled Assessment involves an in-depth study of something taken from Roman life.

In 2009 the department started to run a joint ‘day-out' with the Art department, involving a visit to Fishbourne Roman Palace and Pallant House Gallery in Chichester.  This day is for Year 9 students.  We are hoping to run a trip abroad to Pompeii in 2011 for students in Years 9 and above.

Religion & Philosphy

The title of the department shows that our interests are in religion and philosophy: in thinking about what people from many different religions practise and believe, as well as looking at moral issues and the ‘big' questions like, ‘Does God exist?'  

In Year 7 the girls study aspects of Christianity (life of Jesus, Christian moral teaching and worship), Hinduism (the gods and worship) and Buddhism (teachings about lifestyle).  We also address issues of environmentalism (religious and non-religious responses to the issues of today).

In Year 8 they are introduced to Islamic and Jewish religious practices and beliefs.  The girls also study issues of war and peace, prejudice and discrimination, and freedom and human rights.

In Year 9 the girls proceed to a more general study of issues like: being a person, the cycle of life, growing up, suffering, good and evil, technology and science.  Here staff choose through which religions to approach each issue.

The Key Stage 3 course (Years 7-9) prepares the girls for the GCSE years of Key Stage 4.  Religious Studies is one of the options on offer.  The course we study is the ‘Philosophy and Applied Ethics for OCR B'.  Christian, secular and other religious viewpoints are involved in the study of a broad range of issues: e.g. Religion and Science; and Religion, Poverty and Wealth.  There is no controlled assessment.  Girls are assessed entirely by examination papers.

Religion and Philosophy demands that students think for themselves about issues which are relevant to them and the world in which they live.  They also have to learn that there is no simple or totally ‘right' answer to so many of the problems facing humanity in the 21^st Century.