History

In 2010 there was a 100% pass rate at A2 level with 6 of the 14 candidates achieving an A grade and 3 a B. These were very pleasing results reflecting the hard work of the students, four of whom will be continuing their study of History at Newcastle, Leeds and Liverpool universities. The AS results were also encouraging. Recruitment into the Sixth Form for History remains pleasingly high with twenty-one candidates undertaking AS this year. Sixth form students attended a series of lectures on African-American civil rights in Manchester. The Upper Sixth will be visiting the Palace of Westminster this year.

Numbers are similarly buoyant at GCSE where more than 80% of students have opted to study History in Year 10. GCSE results this year were very pleasing with a record number of A* grades. 70% of students achieved at least a B grade with 57% achieving A and A* grades. GCSE students continue to enjoy access to a wide range of primary source material. New text books dedicated to the AQA specification have been introduced to supplement existing resources. The department has continued to offer extra lunchtime revision support to students in the run-up to examinations. February saw yet another successful Battlefields trip, this time extended to include the Somme region as well as the usual visits around the Ypres salient and the last post ceremony at the Menin Gate.

The department urges students throughout the school to take advantage of the many useful links provided via the Curriculum Plan on the school website and parents may also wish to take advantage of this facility in order to broaden their own understanding and encourage their budding historians. The links are tailored to the work we cover and we hope we have made some discriminating choices from the wealth of material that is on the web. History continues to flourish at KEQMS and the healthy numbers at A level testify to the high regard in which the subject is held by universities and to the intellectual wellbeing of the school.