HISTORY AND MODERN STUDIES

We aim to encourage a critical approach to the past and a desire to think independently and rigorously about political, economic and social issues both past and present.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Learning extends beyond the classroom with regular field trips both local and international. Pupils from Forms IV, V and VI have visited New York and Washington D.C. while visits to the Scottish Parliament, museums and historic sites are established parts of the departmental curriculum.
• The History and Modern Studies Department contains five members of staff with interests and expertise ranging from Nineteenth Century British Social and Political History to Modern Russian and Chinese History; Contemporary American Politics and Culture to African History and Contemporary Politics.
• Pupils are encouraged to become active historians and critical thinkers, examining sources, analysing evidence and debating crucial events and personalities.
• Form VI pupils have the opportunity to further their critical thinking by studying two units of Philosophy at Intermediate 2 level.
• Form VI pupils also take a law module which considers the rule of law, structures and functions of the judiciary in a national and international context.
• Make Poverty History

COURSE INFORMATION

History

All pupils study History for one hour per week in both Forms I and II.

Forms I and II: Our study starts with an examination of the Renaissance and its impact on Western European Civilisation. Following this we examine the era of exploration and the discovery of the New World, the destruction of the Aztec and Inca cultures and the eventual birth of the United States. The French Revolution is our other major topic of investigation in Form I and this is followed, in Form II, by a study of the Twentieth Century World focusing on the turbulent eras of WWII and the Cold War.

Standard Grade History: The course charts the history of Britain and Scotland between 1830-1930, the origins, conduct and repercussions of the Great War and, finally, a study of Weimar Germany and the rise of National Socialism until 1939.

Higher Level History: The development of British Political History between the 1850's and 1979 is undertaken alongside a detailed investigation of the period of Appeasement and the Road to the Second World War. A study of Twentieth Century American History to 1968 completes our higher course.

Advanced Higher History: Pupils undertake a detailed examination of Russian History from the fall of the Romanov Dynasty, through the establishment and consolidation of the Bolshevik State, to the death of Stalin in 1953. All pupils undertake a dissertation of 4,000 words focusing on a chosen topic relevant to the course.

Modern Studies

Form II: Modern Studies is taught to all pupils in Form II for one hour per week. Pupils explore the concepts of Representation and Participation through study of the UK and Scottish political systems: examining means of representation, ideologies of political parties and voting. They also study the benefits of the European Union as well as the issue of the Single Currency.
Pupils also study Rights and Responsibilities. Within the international and national perspective pupils study the issue of human rights and the rights of the child. They will look at abuses of rights through child labour, smacking and homelessness.

Standard Grade Modern Studies: Pupils study Modern Studies at Standard Grade level in Forms III and IV for three hours a week. The following curriculum is taught at this level: Living in a Democracy; Changing Society; Ideologies - USA; International Relations and Politics of Aid.

Higher Modern Studies: Pupils can opt to study Higher Modern Studies either as a follow on from Standard Grade or as a crash Higher in Form V or VI. Many pupils who study History at Standard Grade may pick up the subject in Form V. Pupils opting for this course will be taught for five hours per week. The following curriculum is taught at this level: Political Issues - Decision Making in Central Government; Electoral systems and Voting Behaviour. Social Issues - Healthcare in the UK. International Issues - USA Race Relations; Politics of Food. Half of this course centres on the politics of health and the decision making and report writing here will be of benefit to future medics. A unit of study can be obtained by them.

Philosophy

Pupils in Form VI are able to take two units of Philosophy at Intermediate 2 level. These two units - Moral Philosophy and Problems in Philosophy - are studied using a wide range of resources and focus on such issues as War, Punishment, Euthanasia, the existence of God and the limits of our knowledge.