History
What is History? The range of thought-provoking responses elicited by this question is testament to the richness and complexity of studying the past. In the History Department at MCS, we embrace both of this richness and complexity as we encourage pupils to develop their own answers to History’s innumerable questions.
Why? The desire to know, to understand, to explain are all fundamental to being human, and central to the study of the past. History helps us to make sense of our own world, be that at a local, national, or global level. Our curricula and teaching are tailored to helping pupils understand and interpret the power dynamics and social relations of the past, and thereby to illuminate those of the present. History equips its students with the skills of critical analysis, evaluation, judgement, and communication that are timeless – and timelessly valuable. Moreover, as Orwell reminds us, ‘knowledge is power’. Yet for all History’s transferable benefits, the department above all seeks to foster an interest in the past for its own sake. Our subject never fails to reward open-minded curiosity.
"Man cannot create the current of events. He can only float and steer."
Otto von Bismarck
History in the Curriculum
The department numbers six full-time History teachers (all with university degrees in the subject) and one dedicated Waynflete Academic who oversees and supports applications to study the subject at university. Lessons are varied and engaging, featuring historical debates, collaborative discussions, and interactive source analysis. We deliver a rich curriculum that combines geographical breadth with chronological and thematic coherence.
The Lower School syllabus is broad and diverse. In Second Form, pupils study the emergence of an English nation in the so-called Middle Ages (‘1066 and all that’), the Crusades, and the role and power of Medieval women. In Third Form, pupils study the Renaissance and Reformation, European voyages of discovery and conquest, early modern African Kingdoms, and the slave trade and its abolition.
The Middle School syllabus homes in on international relations in the Twentieth Century. In Lower Fourth, pupils study the origins, course, and legacy of the First World War. For IGCSE, we study CIE’s Modern World History syllabus, with focus in the Upper Fourth on the Treaty of Versailles, League of Nations, causes of the Second World War, and Cold War rivalries from 1945 to c.1989. In the Fifth Form, pupils pursue a study in depth of Germany 1918-1945, which covers the Weimar Republic and its downfall, Hitler’s rise to power, and the Nazi dictatorship (including the Holocaust).
The Sixth Form syllabus is built around the theme of ‘revolutions’, with studies of James I, Charles I, and the English Civil War; the French Revolution and the rule of Napoleon; and Russia from 1855 to 1964, centring on the twin revolutions of 1917. Pupils also research and write a coursework essay on one of the First Crusade 1095-1099, the European ‘Witch Hunt’ c.1550-1650, or the Unification of Italy c.1815-1878.
Further Inspiration
If you are thinking about studying History in the Sixth Form at MCS, you might want to start reading around the subject before you join. Our Study Preparation guides are a useful tool, detailing further reading around key topics.
Extra-curricular History
For all its excellent teaching, well-stocked library, and engaging syllabuses, perhaps the department’s greatest strength is the extra-curricular provision on offer. The school’s History Society hosts a weekly talk from a leading academic historian – recent speakers include Katja Hoyer, Robin Briggs, William Doyle, Robert Bartlett, and Jonathan Phillips (to name but a few). Junior History Society is a lively forum in which pupils present on topic of interest to an audience of enthusiastic and attentive peers. The History Journal, student-edited and published annually, provides an outlet for articles on topics of interest that fall outside of the bounds of the curriculum; its contents and standard never cease to surprise and impress. The department runs a sixth-form trip to Paris every two years, visiting sites such as the Palace of Versailles, the Musee Carnavalet, and the Invalides. A potential trip to the Western Front battlefields for Lower Fourth historians is also in the works. Finally, our location in the heart of Oxford provides our pupils with myriad opportunities to engage with academic (and architectural) History at its very best.
History beyond MCS
Prospective undergraduate historians enjoy dedicated and expert support with their university applications. This ranges from a weekly Reading Group in the Lower Sixth, via advice on external essay competitions (such as the Julia Wood Prize) over the summer, to thorough interview preparation in the Upper Sixth.
On average, over 10 pupils go on to read History at university each year (with around half that number gaining places at Oxford or Cambridge). As a discipline, History can be taken as a Joint Honours course with several other academic disciplines, notably Modern Languages, Politics, Economics, or even English. History is a highly regarded academic discipline, and the transferable skills provide a broad platform for future careers, ranging from the legal profession, advertising, banking, civil service, politics, teaching, management consultancy and even the film industry – among many others.
We look forward to sharing with you our love of History, and fostering yours.
