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HistoryWhat is the philosophy of History at SAIntS?In the setting of an international school, with all its abundant multi-cultural and multi-ethnic and religious influences, History must play a dynamic part in the education of every pupil. The narrative drive, giant personalities and dramatic events should be imbued in every student through passionate and stimulating teaching. The aim is that by the end of Year 9 each pupil should have some grasp of the magisterial sweep of History across the continents, alongside a basic grasp of the essay writing and document analysis skills that are needed in the examination years. At IGCSE and A Level we want pupils to investigate and think for themselves, as History, above all other subjects, should create enquiring minds that enjoy discussion, whilst tying their studies into current affairs. By the end of Year 13 we hope that History students can face the world with the ability to express themselves lucidly on the page and engage with controversial topics through debate, along with going out into the world with a questioning and analytical approach that does not accept received wisdom. The History curriculum at SAIntS:There has been an overhaul of the curriculum at ‘Key Stage 3’ in the last four years to try and reflect the multicultural nature of the school’s intake and as preparation for examination demands in later years. The curriculum is as follows:-
There are three lessons of History per week in Years 7-9 Years 10 – 11We follow Edexcel IGCSE exam, with the main area of study being the 20th Century. Our study topics are:
The examination has one paper of 2 ½ hours. It is divided up into Outline sections (knowledge based answers), Document analysis (dealing with sources) and one Depth Study. There are no tiers and students of all abilities take one paper. There are four lessons of History per week in both Years 10 and 11. Years 12 – 13At A Level we also followed the EDEXCEL GCSE course. We aim to build on the base of knowledge that students have acquired IGCSE History. However, we try to avoid repetition as we want to produce rounded History scholars who have a true appreciation of the forces that have make the modern world, rather than students who have pursued a narrow focus purely for examination success. Our AS Level courses are:
Our A2 courses are:
There are eight lessons of History per week in both Years 12 and 13. History ResourcesThe department has its own small History block including a stockroom/office. We are developing our IT resources in line with the rest of the school: over the next year we hope to have networked PCs in each classroom and mounted digital projectors to complement our more standard resources. Alongside the normal textbooks we have a departmental library that we constantly try to re-stock so that we can cater for the Gifted and Talented students among our pupils, alongside developing SEN resources. The History Department StaffThere are currently three members of the History Department: Joe Percival (HoD)Longer ago than now seems possible I graduated with an MA in Mediaeval History from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland. Following this, I started a career as an antiques dealer but found there was no future in it! Whilst I still had a full head of hair, I went on to train as a teacher with a PGCE at Aberystwyth University. Leaving behind both the state and private sector in the UK, I’m coming up to my 6th year out here in Malawi trying to see as much of Africa as possible whilst coming to understand something of Africa’s diverse past. I make no bones about History being the most stimulating of all subjects to teach as it gives pupils a true understanding of who they are and how their society has been formed, whilst taking in a vast range of influences across the arts and sciences; History provides the context to almost everything else a student will study. I teach through the age and ability range and in addition to this I am Head of Year 13 and deliver Thinking Skills to the 6th Form, with a bit of acting thrown in, all of which ensures a lot of frantic dashing about but a very full life at SAIntS. Andy UglowAfter graduating from the University of York in 2005, I went immediately to the London Institute of Education where I completed my PGCE. Having endured as much of the busy city life as I could stomach at the time, I took up a teaching post at a school outside Oxford where I became Deputy Head of Sixth Form as well as teaching History. Before heading to university in the first place, I spent 8 months living in Lesotho where I taught in a developing secondary school. It was here that my love of Southern Africa was born, and it is on the many subsequent visits to the region that it has been cemented. At university, my focus was principally on the history of colonisation and the many problems associated with it, both at home and in the colonies themselves. Since then, I have developed a fascination in the history of America and Napoleonic Europe, teaching both topics at A Level. To me, history is more than simply the study of the past. Even when the joy of academic discovery is ignored, the subject delivers important lessons in who we are, why we live the way we do and so on. To this end, it is an imperative and fascinating contribution to the education of any student. When not teaching history, I enjoy coaching cricket and rugby, which, unfortunately, I now referee rather than play. I am in my first year at SAIntS, and am looking forward to making Malawi my home whilst exploring the surrounding area. Adrian Scarlett
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