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History

According to George Bernard Shaw ‘the thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history’, witty, and perhaps true if we consider politicians. However, Machiavelli opines that ‘whoever wishes to see the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times’. Whether we are conscious of it or not, we are all part of the historical process. The modus operandi, therefore, of the History Department at Town Close is to develop an enthusiasm and passion for the subject; a love that, we hope, will long outlast the children’s time with us.

History in Pre Prep is topic led, often relating to events in the calendar such as Remembrance Day and Guy Fawkes Night. In Years 3 and 4 the subject material studied expands to include the Ancient Egyptians, Ancient Greeks, Victorians and the invader and settler culture of the Romans, Anglo Saxons and Vikings. In Year 5 the focus switches to the more contemporary theme of the Era of World War II with an emphasis on not just exploring the travails of the Home Front such as Rationing and Evacuation but on key military events such the Battle of Britain and D Day. Year 6 pupils study the turbulent, blood soaked but, nevertheless, mesmerising events of the Tudor period.

In Years 7 and 8 the ISEB Common Entrance ‘Medieval Realms’ Syllabus is followed. The topics studied vary from year to year; for example the Crusades, the Black Death, Henry V, Henry II & Thomas Becket. It is a great syllabus that promotes the solid virtues of good ’old fashioned’ scholarship where objective analysis of historical evidence rubs shoulders with factual knowledge in a series of stirring episodes and stories.

A key element in the teaching of history at Town Close is the ‘out of classroom’ experience. The department supports the matter conveyed in lessons with a diverse and stimulating range of trips and activities. Such trips and activities include. Dressing up in Victorian clothes for a morally strict day of Victorian education, administered by a Victorian Master. Spending the day dressed as Romans drilling like Legionnaires with two experts on Ancient Rome. Visits to many museums such as that to the Imperial War Museum. Visits from people and guests with particular areas of experience or knowledge such as veteran soldiers of World War II and D Day.

The department runs two major residential field trips. In Year 6 we spend a week visiting Flanders in Belgium. The trips and guided visits undertaken reflect the diversity of history itself; from the intriguing splendour of the medieval art of Jan Van Eyck, to the poignant and moving battlefields, cemeteries and museums experience of the World war I Ypres Salient to the polar extreme of museums dedicated to the histories of chocolate and the humble ’frite’, all in their own way help to explain and throw light upon the human condition that is the backbone of history. Year 7, in the footsteps of ‘the warlike Harry’, a visit to the ’vasty fields of France’ to explore the battlefield and museum at Agincourt.

In common with other subjects history utilises the power of modern technology, and there is no doubt that computers, the internet and various educational programmes and films have enhanced the teaching of the subject. However, as useful as they are, they are no more than companions to the cut and thrust of debate, scrutiny of evidence, the knowledge of factual detail and balanced speculation.

We aim to bring history alive, and prologue like, be ‘the muse of fire, that would ascend the brightest heaven of invention’.