History, History of Art and Politics

At St. Helen’s, all girls study History in Years 7, 8 and 9 with the subject being a popular choice at GCSE. In the Sixth Form, we offer Early Modern or Modern History at AS/A2 level and girls can also choose to study A level Government and Politics and History of Art. History and Politics are offered as options within the International Baccalaureate.

History
The History Department is committed to teaching our pupils to develop different conceptual ideas that underpin the work of the historian. This includes a sense of evidence  and an understanding of historical explanation with a particular focus on causation. Girls are encouraged to think about changes and developments over time and recognise different historical interpretations and significance. We encourage all students to be open-minded and to be willing to consider and question alternative viewpoints when examining interpretations of past events.

In Years 7-9, girls follow a course based on the National Curriculum Programmes of Study and learn the disciplinary skills of history alongside developments of the past. We follow three broad historical themes across the three years of Middle School: Living and Believing in Year 7: Power and Democracy in Year 8 and the Age of Empire in Year 9. Visits are an essential part of the curriculum and recent trips have included a Year 7 visit to the Black Country Living Museum to complement the study of Britain’s industrialisation and, in Year 9, a visit to the Ypres Battlefields to enhance the study of World War 1.

At GCSE, girls study Modern European & World History, with students achieving excellent results: in 2010, 83% of girls achieved an A* or A grade. The course provides an interesting introduction to countries and events which helped to shape the modern world. Topics studied include Nazi Germany, The USA 1945-1970 and Superpower Relations 1943-1991.

At A level, students can choose between Early Modern or Modern History. At A2 level, students are given the opportunity to research a historical controversy surrounding Queen Elizabeth I or the Thatcher administration. History is a popular option in the Sixth Form and girls achieve excellent results.

History at IB has also proved to be a popular choice at St. Helen’s. The structure of the IB course enables girls to get a broad perspective of the modern world, requiring them to consider change and continuity not only over time but also between global regions. It is very much the study of History from an international perspective.

Politics
The study of Politics embraces the study of government – the institutions of government, how government is organised, how governments are elected and the rightful limits of power that a government can exercise over its citizens.

Politics is offered in the Sixth Form for both AS/A2 level and the International Baccalaureate. At AS level, the focus is on contemporary British politics whilst A2 level focuses on contemporary American politics and the comparison between American and British politics. Lessons involve discussion, debate and student participation, enabling girls to develop the skills of structured essay writing and effective presentation of their arguments.

In contrast to A level, the IB course in Political Thought focuses on ideas rather than institutions. The course draws on some of the classic texts of political theory in order to introduce students to a range of political ideas, including freedom, rights, equality, justice and democracy.

History of Art
In History of Art pupils explore the styles, movements and historical events that are crucial to the development of art and architecture through history.
The subject is offered in the Sixth Form to A Level pupils. In the AS year we broadly survey art and architecture from antiquity through to the 1990s, learning how to analyse and interpret works of art and architecture within their relative historical contexts. We also cover a range of themes in relation to the study of art including gender, patronage, social status, nationality, and many others.

In the A2 year we focus more specifically on two periods of artistic production: Nineteenth Century Europe, and Europe and America from 1900-1945. These two units always prove to be popular with the pupils and provide opportunities for us to make the most of the museum collections around London and abroad.

History of Art at A Level requires no previous subject knowledge. However, enthusiasm and an open mind are essential. It is a popular subject at A Level and pupils frequently continue on to study the subject at University.