History
Durham School is one of the oldest schools in the country, an offshoot of the Norman cathedral and one of the cathedral's schools that were re-founded by Cardinal Langley in 1414. (Really dedicated Old Boys, though perhaps not those who took History in the Sixth Form, will even try to locate its origins on Lindisfarne, presided over by the great Saint Cuthbert, bible in one hand and rugby ball in the other.) The present site is overlooked by the cathedral and has at its core the gentleman's residence where Sir William Cooke conducted some of his juvenile experiments into electricity. Crowning the complex is the Chapel, a memorial to those Old Dunelmians who fell in the First and Second World Wars.
In such a setting the History Department has a head start with the pupils. They are absorbing history throughout the school day, and the ghosts of ODs haunt the lessons. Are they studying the wars against Scotland in the Middle Ages? King John Balliol attended the school. Are they looking at Queen Elizabeth's persecution of the Catholics? Step forward James Young, alias James Dingle, who was ordained a priest and was tortured by Walsingham, Elizabeth's spy-master general. Are they researching slavery? Behold Granville Sharp, who helped secure one of the first judgments freeing slaves in England. Are they following the war against Napoleon? At Corunna Sir John Moore ("Not a drum was heard, not a funeral note") fell back mortally wounded into the arms of Henry Hardinge - who later fought with Wellington at Waterloo and became C in C of the British Army. Have they reached the Great War? Noel Hodgson is one of the war poets and fell on the first day of the Somme. History is truly all around them.
Yet the History curriculum is thoroughly modern. In Years 7 - 9 we follow the National Curriculum from the battle of Hastings to the end of the Great War, although we are freed from its absolute constraints and can keep alive figures such as Nelson, Wellington and Nightingale who have largely disappeared from textbooks. We aim to give a sense of our country's past and to furnish the mind in its general knowledge. We eagerly await the day when an OD appears on 'Who wants to be a millionaire?' and has no need to phone a history friend. One has already figured on 'The Weakest Link' and it was not a history link that snapped! For any reader who enjoys a quiz, there is a mini-quiz at the end of this entry.
From Year 10 History is one of the optional subjects. There are generally two sets, who study Edexcel's Modern World A specification. This focuses on the earlier C20, from 1929 to 1969 with depth studies on 'Russia 1914-39 and Britain in the Age of Total War 1931-51. A Controlled Assessment is done on Germany 1918-39. The course is Edexcel Modern World A, and the Group's website is www.edexcel.com. Go to GCSE and History for details.
In the Year 10 Christmas term we study Russia 1914-39 and take that Module's exam in January. If a pupil is disappointed with his/her mark, there is the opportunity to re-sit in June. International Relations 1929-68 follows in the Easter and Summer Terms, with the Module being sat in June. There is the chance to re-sit in the following January, although our firm aim is to get good marks on the first occasion and so ease the exam burden throughout the course.
In Year 11 Christmas term is spent on Britain in the Age of Total War 1931-51 (i.e. the poverty of the Depression, Britain's experience of war 1939-45 and then the forging of the Welfare State) and the Easter Term is devoted to Germany 1918-39 for the Controlled Assessment Tasks, which are submitted in May. The final half-term before Study Leave is revision for the 1931-51 module.
Since 2000 our pass rate has averaged 87% with 45% of the pass grades being A and A*.
Parents sometimes ask whether there is a useful Revision Guide to help pupils as the exams come close. There are a number in the bookshops, but they are designed to cover the specifications of all three Exam groups and so some chapters are irrelevant to our course's chosen modules. If pupils buy one, they must ask their teacher to mark which chapters relate to our course. Personally, I prefer pupils to work from their class notes, making revision diagrams and cards. None of the guides stand out as particularly useful, and I judge them to be aimed more at the C than the A or A* candidate.
In the Sixth Form we avoid what has been called the 'Hitlerisation of History' and retreat into the past to look at less familiar topics over a range of centuries. We follow the Edexcel specifications 8HI01 (AS) and 9HI01 (A-level) . Detailed information can be found at www.edexcel.com , going to 'GCE from 2008' and History.
Durham School does not sit AS Modules in January. All subjects are taken in the summer, and comprise:
AS Unit 1 focuses on the later C18 and C19th for two themes: the loss of the American colonies (Option C2) and the Scramble for Africa during the era of British imperialism (Option C6).
AS Unit 2 (Option A1) on Henry VIII , which will be examined in January. There is a re-sit opportunity in June. This module is focused on document use.
Yr.13 all year. The A2 modules are the USA, Boom and Bust, 1917-54 (Unit 3, Option C3) and a coursework unit on the Crusades 1095 - 1187 (Unit 4 , CW5). The two units are taught in parallel for half the fortnightly lesson cycle each. Unit 4 allows pupils to escape from exam pressures and write two pieces free from time and memory constraints. Unit 3 is examined in June, and Unit 4's individual deadlines are issued for the two Coursework pieces during the year. Parents are notified of these.
All these modules are concerned with Change in societies and power structures and with how the authorities responded to the shifts. Pupils will become familiar with a variety of periods but have the coherence of an underlying concept binding the modules to
Since 2000 we have had a 100% pass rate, at grades A - D, with 79% gaining grades A and B.
The Staff
Mr Diccon Tyreman
Mr Tyreman is Head of the Department. From Yorkshire, he crossed to the Red Rose County and graduated in History from Lancaster University. This was followed by an MA in Historical Research from Lancaster, focusing on the British Empire and aspects of naval history. A PGCE was also taken at Lancaster. He arrives this year, 2011, following nine years at Forest School in London, where he was Day Housemaster.
Contact d.tyreman@live.durhamschool.co.uk
Mrs Lucy Hewitt
Mrs Lucy Hewitt is second in the Department. She is a History graduate of Bedford College, London and subsequently took an M.A. while teaching. She joined the staff as Housemistress of Pimlico House in 1990 and retired from the House in the summer of 2005. She takes day-to-day responsibility for the medieval and Tudor/Stuart courses in Years 7 and 8, and her personal interests lie in social history.
Mr. Martin George
Mr. George, the Headmaster, took a History degree at Manchester University. His biography appears elsewhere on the website. He teaches a Year 9 set. With his Army background he is well-versed in military history.
Test your own memory of History
1.Name William the Conqueror's great tax survey of England.
2.How many of Henry II's knights attacked Archbishop Beckett in Canterbury cathedral?
3.Who was Elizabeth I's half-brother?
4.Who is popularly thought to have brought tobacco and the potato to England?
5.Who was Charles I's wife?
6.Name Robert Clive's great victory in India.
7.Who was second-in-command to Nelson at the battle of Trafalgar?
8.What did a young 'trapper' do down a mine in the early C19?
9.Which Prime Minister took Britain to war in 1914?
10.Was the number of civilians killed in Britain during World War II nearest 60,000 or 135,000 or 400,000?
Scroll down for answers...
Answers
1.Domesday Book;
2.Four;
3.Edward VI;
4.Sir Walter Raleigh;
5.Henrietta Maria;
6.Plassey;
7.Admiral Collingwood;
8.Opened ventilation doors as wagons of coal came past;
9.Asquith;
10.The first number.
Humanities
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National Schools' Biathlon semi-final
Sunday, 05 February 2012
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recent news
‘Six Weeks’ talk by Historian & Author John Lewis-Stempel
Friday 2 March at 7 p.m.
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photo gallery
See more photos of the senior school in the photo gallery.
Testimonials
"The atmosphere in Pimlico is warm and friendly and there is always someone to give you a hug, tissues or a cup of tea if you're having a bad day. I am glad to be a Pimlico girl and haven't yet got through one day here without giggling!"
Su Choi (Pimlico, Year 11)
