History
‘We are not the makers of History. We are made by History.’
Martin Luther King Jr.
Staff:
Ms M. Greene (Curriculum Leader)
Mr S. Kitchen
Mrs J. Ireland
History has always been a popular subject because people are fascinated about what it was like to live in the past. People want to know what the lives of the rich and famous, and general public were like in a particular time in History. We in the History Department at Fort Hill aim to bring the past to life, by making the study of History enjoyable, stimulating and rewarding.
History is taught from Year 8 to 14.
At KS3 we study
In Year 8:
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What is History? and the Skills of an Historian
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The Battle of Hastings
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Life in Medieval England and Ireland
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Black Death
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Castles
In Year 9:
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The Reformation;
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The Tudors including Henry VIII; Elizabeth I; The Plantation of Ulster;
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The Stuarts including James I; The English Civil War; Cromwell and the Williamite Wars.
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Who was to blame for the sinking of Titanic?
In Year 10:
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World War 1
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Irish History 1800 – 1921
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The Suffragettes.
Including extended writing opportunities, source evaluation and developing ICT skills within History.
We also take our students to the Somme Heritage Centre and Lisburn Museum
At GCSE we study
Exam Board: CCEA
In Year 11:
Unit 1: (Knowledge and source based paper)
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Section A: Modern World Studies in Depth
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Option 1: A Life in Nazi Germany, 1933–45
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Section B: Local Study
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Option 2: Changing Relations: Northern Ireland and its Neighbours, 1965–98
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Unit 1 is worth 60% of the final grade.
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This will be examined at the end of Year 11.
In Year 12:
Unit 2: (Source evaluation and extended writing)
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Outline Study: International Relations, 1945–2003
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Unit 2 is worth 40% of the final grade
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This will be examined at the end of Year 12.
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The scheme of assessment
There is only one tier of entry for the examination.
All students are required to:
Sit two written papers (60% & 40%) which are externally marked.
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Unit 1 = 1 hour 45 minutes
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Unit 2 = 1 hour 15 minutes
There is no Controlled Assessment in GCSE History.
At A Level we study
Exam Board: CCEA
In Year 13 AS Level:
Unit 1 – Historical Investigations and Interpretations
Germany 1919 – 1945
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50% of AS, 20% of A Level
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Externally assessed examination, 1 hour 30 minutes
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Candidates answer 3 questions, one historical knowledge based question and 2 source based questions
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Examined in May of Year 13
Unit 2 – Conflict and Change in Europe
Russia 1914 – 1941
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50% of AS, 20% of A Level
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Externally assessed examination, 1 hour 30 minutes
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Candidates answer 2 questions both focusing on historical knowledge and analytical skills
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Examined in May of Year 13
In Year 14 A2 Level:
Unit 3 – Change Over Time
The American Presidency
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20% of A Level
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Externally assessed examination, 1 hour
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This is a synoptic paper focusing on changes throughout a century
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Candidates answer 1 question focusing on historical knowledge, analytical and evaluative skills
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Examined in June of Year 14
Unit 4 – Historical Investigations and Interpretations
Partition of Ireland 1900 – 1925
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40% of A Level
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Externally assessed examination, 2 hours 30 minutes
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Candidates answer 3 questions, one question of two parts, set in the context of an historical enquiry which includes the use of sources and a extended essay question focusing on historical knowledge, analytical and evaluative skills
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Examined in June of Year 14
Trips and visits
In the History Department we feel that the study of History is about people and events, and circumstances that have affected their and our lives. Therefore, it is extremely important that pupils today should learn as much as possible about the past from the people and objects / artefacts that have shaped it. Throughout our school curriculum we offer many trips to complement their studies. Examples include the Somme Heritage Centre, Lisburn Museum, A Level Conferences and regular visits from Holocaust Survivor Joanna Millan. 'Our Senior School pupils have also taken part in the Lessons from Auschwitz Project, a Mock EU Debate, and a trip to Berlin.
Our pupils have also taken part in the Lessons From Auschwitz Project