History / RE Department Information
The department requires a committed and enthusiastic teacher to teach RE and History at Key Stage 3 and History at Key Stage 4.
The History and RE departments sit alongside Geography and Business Studies in the Humanities faculty, under the leadership of the Head of Humanities who is also the Head of History. There are currently three full time and four part time teachers of RE and History.
The successful candidate will enjoy teaching RE and History in a supportive and well-resourced department and must be prepared to contribute fully to departmental developments. This includes new GCSE specification planning and implementation, creating new Life without Levels assessments at KS3 which link to the KS4 exam specs, improving literacy, decreasing the DAP gap and essentially inspiring pupils through their love of the subject.
The current curriculum is designed to inspire and engage, laying the foundations on which KS4 knowledge and skills will be built. The resources to support the schemes of work will reflect those we have developed and continue to develop. In keeping with the topical and dynamic nature of the subject we continually seek to adapt and create new material. History and RE is taught in blocks across KS3 with tops sets starting the full course RE GCSE in year 9.
In Year 7 topics include: Big Questions – an introduction to RE, Medieval England, Buddhism, The Reformation and Elizabethan England.
In Year 8 topics include: Churches and Christianity, The Industrial Revolution, 5 Pillars of Islam, Empire and Slave Trade, Hinduism and World War One.
In Year 9 topics include: GCSE RS Peace and Conflict, Hitler and the Holocaust, WW2 and an introduction to the Cold War, GCSE RS Hinduism beliefs, and GCSE History course of Medicine.
At GCSE History is a very popular subject option. Next year there will be 5 classes in Year 10 and 5 in Year 11. We currently use Edexcel and the topics are: Medicine in Britain 12.50- present for the thematic study, Early Elizabethan England 1558-1588 as the British Depth Study, The American West 1835-1895 as the period study and Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918–39 as the Modern depth study.Results are usually around 60% A*-C with most pupils achieving at or above their predicted grades.In 2017 33.9% gained A or A*. However we are currently focussing on the progress made by our lower attaining students, especially with the demands of the new 9-1 GCSE. There is also a well-established and popular international trip to Germany for Year 10 and 11.
At GCSE RS is also a popular option as students have the choice of topping up their compulsory RE in order to take the full GCSE exam. The RE department follow the AQA exam board and have chosen Hinduism and Christianity as their religions. Results are strong, especially with the top sets who complete the course in year 9 and 10. In 2017 98% gained A*- C and 45% gained A and A*. The current focus is on increasing retention of knowledge for the LPA students and closing the DAP gap.
Department classrooms have SMART boards and all students have iPads.
We look forward to welcoming a new member staff who can develop and share innovative ideas in a successful and enthusiastic department.
L Chapman
Head of Humanities