Syllabus
The teaching of History is regulated by the NI programme of study at KS3 and, to a lesser extent, at KS4.
At KS3 schools are required to teach six units: four compulsory units ('Core') and two designed by the school History department (SDU).
Currently the units taught in each year are as follows:
Form 1 (Year 8)
· The Norman and Medieval World (Core)
· Castles (SDU)
Form 2 (Year 9)
· From Renaissance to Reformation (SDU)
· Britain, Ireland and Europe, 1570-1700 (Core)
Form 3 (Year 10)
· From Union to Partition: Ireland 1801-1921 (Core)
· World War One (Core)
At KS4 the CCEA course is followed to GCSE level:
Form 4 (Year 11)
· Germany 1919-1941
· Britain, NI and Ireland, 1935-1949
Form 5 (Year 12)
· The Final Solution (Coursework option)
· Superpower Rivalry, 1945-1991
At A Level pupils must study the history of more than one country. The department currently offers pupils an opportunity to specialise in either predominantly British (EDEXCEL) or European history (CCEA).
Pupils study six units in either of their chosen courses. At the end of Lower VI pupils sit the AS Level exam based on their first three units. In Upper VI pupils sit the A2 exam based on the final three units.
Pupils have the opportunity to resit any units on one occasion. The eventual A Level grade is determined by the cumulative performance in the six chosen units.
| The Rise of the Nazi Party, 1919-1933 | Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1919-1945 |
| The Liberal Governments 1905-1915 | Fascist Italy, 1919-1943 |
| Society and the economy, 1919-1939 | Russia, 1917-1941 |
| British Foreign Policy, 1919-1939 | The Causes of WW2, 1919-1941 |
| Poverty and the State, 1830-1931 | Ireland, 1900-1925 |
| The Decline of the Liberals, 1900-1929 | Ideologies, 1900-2000 |
In addition to A Level courses, pupils are also taught to Oxbridge level as necessary.