History and Government & Politics
Departmental Staff
Mr E Mc Evoy
Mrs L Quinn
Mr T Lewis
Overview
The department teaches two independent yet inter-related subjects one (Government & Politics) of which is currently confined to the latter stages of students’ time at the college while the other (History) is available to all students right throughout their seven years at the College should they choose.
History is study of the past. The investigation and analysis of events and people from the past and their ideas and motivations for the actions they took. History opens a window on the past in order that we can learn from it, value and perpetuate the positives and avoid the repetition of mistakes. The study of history allows us to put ourselves in context and place ourselves as part of a chain of events greater than ourselves.
Literacy is central to the successful study of history but many other skills are learned such as analysis, synthesis, extrapolation, interpretation, evaluation and application and successful use of these skills are vital in gaining a true understanding of events from the past and applying the lessons to the modern world. This hierarchy of skills learned in through the study of historical events helps in the preparation of the student for the challenges outside the classroom.
Key Stage Three
J1-J3 involves the Northern Ireland Curriculum. Students in the first three years of study will engage with a wide variety of content and approaches. This study begins with the individual and grows outward to incorporate national, continental and global views with a consistent emphasis on contemporary comparisons.
J1 study concentrates on a traditional subject matter, ‘The Normans’ but with contemporary emphases by relating it consistently to the contemporary world.
In J2 the field of study is broadened out further taking in a wider field of study in both chronological and geographical terms. The period of history under study runs from the late 15th century up to the beginning of the 18th century. The course also covers Ireland, Britain and Europe and investigates a wide and varied range of issues from religious reforms to scientific discoveries to colonisation and the resultant conflict.
The skills required to successfully complete the course are delivered and examined throughout the year in a range of projects and assessments.
Important skills are deployed and harnessed in the successful completion of projects and assessments and ICT is used extensively in the execution of project work.
The J3 study is centred on a study of Ireland from the Act of Union, 1800 to the Partition of Ireland in 1921 with further study incorporating the 20th century. Again the full range of historical skills are utilised and developed during the course of study. This course is also assessed continuously through a variety of media and formats. The second part of J3 involves a study of the Second World War.
All of the topics studied in Key Stage 1 have their own unique iBook conceived and produced in the department and delivered by departmental members.
At the end of each year between J1 and J3 project work is undertaken which contributes to the final end of year result.
Extra-Curricular
The department hopes to run junior school trips to areas of interest in the locality relevant to the specific fields of study e.g. Bagenal’s Castle in Newry.
For GCSE and A-Level students a Four day trip to Berlin was undertaken in October 2016.
Government & Politics students will visit Stormont and Leinster House and have taken part in topical television debates such as ‘Let’s Talk’ & ‘Question Time’. The Department has successfully run a Government and Politics Forum in the College on a number of occasions which was well attended by schools from the Area Learning Community and by high profile guests from the major political parties and political commentators.
There has been annual attendance at relevant History and Government & Politics lectures and seminars
