Subject Overview
The most fundamental aims of the History Department are to generate an interest in the subject and to transmit an understanding of the past to our pupils. It is important that they appreciate the world beyond their immediate experience and understand how we got to where we are now. We believe that the story of the past is an intrinsically important and fascinating one.
Throughout the school, we attempt to challenge all pupils to maximise their potential. Our examination results have been excellent and we run an extensive programme of extra-curricular trips and lectures.
At Key Stage 3, we study British history from the Norman Conquest to the end of World War II. Each year includes an element of international History to provide a contrast with the predominant British theme.
At Key Stage 4, we offer the Cambridge IGCSE course, which allows pupils to cover a good deal of the social, economic and political history of the twentieth-century world.
Our AQA A-level course presently follows two themes, Tudor England and Communism in Crisis, with a coursework investigation based upon African American civil rights. At IB, we study the Cold War, authoritarian dictatorships and the Paper 1 course, Rights and Protest. At higher level, there is an additional paper on the history of the Americas.
| KS3 | GCSE | iGCSE | Pre A level / Pre IB | IB | A Level | Cambridge Technical | Pre U |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
What skills will I learn?
Reading, writing, debating, research skills and thinking.
What else will I get to do?
- Model United Nations
- Debating Society
- Links with the Historical Association
- Many chapels include a strong historical narrative
- Cross-curricular links: links with art department: ‘to end all Wars’ poppy project, castle building, ‘Memorial Flame project’, Holocaust memorial day emblem; links with English: World War I poetry; history department has offered contextual talks on historical subjects; Anstey prize
Trips
- Year 7: Dover Castle
- Year 8: Hampton Court
- Year 9: The Somme
- Year 10/11: Berlin
- Year 12: Parliament; Tudor lectures at CCCU
The next step..
The possibilities are endless. Many of our strongest students have gone on to study history at excellent universities.
Meet the Head of History
Graham Noble BA (Hons), Hull; PGCE, Bristol
headofhistory@kentcollege.co.uk
I have been teaching history since 1990, firstly at Bedales School in Hampshire, and then at Kent College, Canterbury. Though I have spent a good deal of time working on the twentieth century, my passion is for the sixteenth, which I teach at A-level. I have published a number of academic articles on this era in History Review and other periodicals, covering a range of topics loosely connected with the Reformation.
The introduction of the IB to the KC curriculum has enabled me to explore new interests, in particular Mao Zedong’s rule in China and aspects of the history of Latin America. Beyond my formal teaching, I run the Debating Society and an increasingly popular Model United Nations group. It was also my privilege to co-author the history of the old boys of the school who died in conflict, A Richer Dust Concealed (Out of the Box, 2016).
The history department at Kent College has flourished and expanded in recent years and it has a strong record of excellent teaching, inspiring students of all abilities.
Have a question?
If you would like to discuss details of your child's care with us, send us a message and we will gladly answer your questions.