Clifton College Website

History

Over the last five years, we have restructured and, hopefully, revitalised the teaching of history in the Pre. Previously, the National Curriculum lead us into a hotchpotch of periods that lacked any real coherence or cogency, but now, while continuing to use the QCAs from the NC), we have re-jigged it in such a way that it flows seamlessly from Year 5 right up to GCSE, covering each of the relevant ages in historical sequence and thereby enabling the children to gain a much sounder grasp of how the whole tale of English/British history fits together.

Staff
Head of Humanities:	Mr Nigel Sidall BA
Teachers (Year 5):	Sally Nuttall CertEd
	Helen Edwards BA (Hons)PGCE
	Ann Turnbull MA PGCE
	Jeannie Whatmough JP DipCE
	Mr Matthew Wood
	Rebecca Mann BA (Hons) PGCE
	Miss Alexa Toy BA PGCE
	Miss Lucy Turner BA PGCE
Teachers (Year 6-8):	Nigel Siddall BA (Hons) DPL:1
	Matthew Higgins
	Mr David Pafford BMus PGCE
	Mr John Milne BA MBA PGCE
	Miss Alexa Toy BA PGCE
	Dr Robert Acheson

We have managed to acquire some much more fizzy text books and resource files, not to mention videos, DVDs and CD Roms, all of which allow us to deliver the subject in what I hope is a dynamic and colourful way. I also encourage a hands-on approach so that, wherever possible, the children get a feel for and sense of involvement in what they are learning. Role Play is vital to this process (hopefully costumed, in due course!), but so too are such things as visits from archaeologists, building Celtic hill forts and trips to the Roman Baths at Bath, Chepstow castle, the Industrial Museum and St Fagans – as well as the highly popular workshops given by Greek thespians, Viking warriors and Victorian policemen. Through this, we aspire not only to teach and inform about the successes and failures of our culture, but also inspire the enquiring mind. In these murky days, it is essential that the children learn to think for themselves and understand how to differentiate facts from spin, truth from propaganda. We hope to show them how!

Lessons

5 lessons and 1 prep per fortnight.

Assessment

Mid year Modules and end of year exams feeding into a Subject Profile which charts the development of each child and which I vet and, with the help of the relevant member of the department, arrange strategies to overcome any perceived problem.

Source books

Letts KS3, In search of series, Medieval Realms, the Middle Ages, Making of the UK, Presenting the Past series, invasion and Integration, Saxons and Vikings, Ancient Greeks, Romans and Empire, Workshop to Empire