Colfe’s History department seeks to promote critical and inquisitive thinking in all of its students through stimulating classroom and homework activities, clubs and societies, trips and visits. We hope to develop a love of History and look to encourage our students to follow their particular interests, whatever period or place that might be, whether covered in our lessons or not.

History is part of the core curriculum up to and including Year 9. We follow a broad chronological sweep of British history from before the Roman invasion of 55 BC to the present day, with opportunities to look at the wider history of the world in each year. Most continue with the subject at GCSE, where we follow the OCR Modern World History GCSE course.

Around half our GCSE candidates join us in the Sixth Form. Currently, we study Britain’s role in the world after 1945, the USA and the Cold War in Asia and Russia under the Tsars and the Communists. All of our Sixth Formers also produce two individual assignments, which give an excellent opportunity to develop the independent academic skills required on any degree course.

We encourage our pupils and students to involve themselves in the wider life of the department. We have regular visiting speakers on Monday lunchtime sessions of the Colfe’s Historical Society and all students in every year group are expected to read at least one historical book each term and present on this to their classmates. This has provided a great opportunity for the children to demonstrate their enthusiasm, with subject matter ranging from Mustafa Atatürk to the history of skateboarding.