History
Overview of subject / Department
The History Department at Hordle Walhampton is in great shape. With a staff of 11 throughout the Pre-Prep and Prep School, the subject is taught by enthusiastic teachers with a passion for History. In Reception and in Year 1, it is taught as part of a termly topic where the children, in mixed ability groups learn about their family, the past and present, household objects and books and toys. In Year 2, with one double lesson a week the pupils learn about famous people and famous events such as Boudicca, Alfred the Great, the Battle of Hastings, Anglo Saxon life and life in Lymington. When the pupils reach Year 3 they are still in mixed ability groups and they are taught History as a specialist subject for two lessons a week covering the Egyptians, the Celts and the Romans. This format continues into Year 4 where they are taught about the Tudors and in Year 5 about the Victorians and this is when a formal History prep is introduced for the first time. In Year 6, the pupils are now streamed in all subjects including History where they still have two lessons a week and one prep session. The topic this year is the Stuarts. In Year 7, three lessons a week are introduced as the pupils begin their Common Entrance syllabus or for those who have been identified as potential scholars, will follow the same syllabus, that of the Medieval realms but at a more advanced level. In Year 8, still with three lessons and a prep a week, the pupils will continue to follow the Common Entrance programme which includes studying more Medieval History, the Spanish Armada and the Napoleonic Wars. These topics and the skills that the pupils have acquired aim to give them a balanced and broad view of History through the ages and will enable them to be in a strong position to answer Common Entrance and Scholarship questions confidently.
Year 3 Egyptian Workshop
Aims of the History Department
The History Department at Hordle Walhampton has several aims. We aim first and foremost to promote a love and enjoyment of History which we hope will stay with the pupils for the rest of their lives. Secondly, we aim to prepare the pupils for the challenges of external examinations including the Common Entrance and Scholarship papers that they will sit to a variety of senior schools. Finally, we aim to broaden the pupils’ knowledge and understanding of famous people and famous events enabling them to make a sense of their own background and how the past and present are intertwined.
What is unique about the way HW approaches History?
Our approach to teaching History is very simple. If we can encourage the pupils to enjoy the subject then the battle has been won. With this in mind, lessons, where possible are interactive with I.T playing an important part in helping the pupils improve their research and investigative skills. This helps bring History to life through a variety of pictures, stories and characters. We also aim to bring History into the classroom and into the school grounds through Battle reinactions such as Hastings and Agincourt while the Assignments that the pupils complete in Year 7 and Year 8 allow them to be creative and independent. Each year a whole feast of cakes in the shape of castles, medieval banquets and delicious Bayeux Tapestries are produced as the pupils are able to make History fun. We also aim to identify each boy and girl’s particular learning style and lessons are planned with this in mind allowing pupils access to their own best way of learning information and helping them develop their skills in this subject.
Year 7 Battle of Hastings
What has the History Department achieved this year?
To bring History to life, visits and trips are vital for pupils to engage with the subject and a variety of exciting excursions are undertaken each year. St Barbes Museum in Lymington, East Wellow, Butser Iron Age Farm, Rockbourne Roman Villa, Hampton Court, the Mary Rose and HMSVictory are among some of the places visited, while an Egyptian day is organised for Year 3. Year 4 and 5, on alternate years are treated to a day at school amongst the Tudors and the Victorians which aim to enhance their understanding and enjoyment of those particular periods. All these experiences help the pupils develop greater empathy with the topics that they are studying and a great deal of fun is had as well.
What have been the History Department’s Results?
The History Common Entrance and Scholarship results over the last three years have been excellent with 37% of pupils gaining A grades, 65% gaining A or B grades and an exceptional 94% achieving A – C grades in their respective exams which is a fantastic achievement. A number of pupils are also entered in the Townsend Warner History Prize and last year Jamie Truell secured a most impressive 8th place out of a field of over 800 throughout the country.