History at The Maynard is engaging, motivating and rigorous. History should have both relevance and resonance for students. It should fire their curiosity for the past in order to inform our present and future.

History enjoys a high profile at The Maynard. It teaches us about the diversity of human experience, about people and how they interact, the motives and emotions that tear them apart or draw them together. The skills of historical enquiry equip our students with some of the skills most prized in later life- the abilities to research, analyse evidence, to identify truth and recognise myth, propaganda or downright lies.

At Key Stage 3 (years 7– 9) the History course explores British History from 1066 to 1945. The students will undertake a series of enquiries into some of the key moments in our History. In addition, they will also have the opportunity to investigate a number of important topics in European and World History, gaining an appreciation of how the world has developed and the debates that have arisen from, for example, the Crusades, the slave trade and the development of total war. History is taught using a wide variety of approaches. As part of this we make extensive use of ICT, debate and role play as a means of engaging with a broad spectrum of historical evidence and ideas.

Our popular GCSE History course is framed around Edexcel's Modern World GCSE course. This is a modular course that focuses on International Relations 1943-91, The USA 1919-41, British social history 1931-51 and the girls will produce their controlled assessment on analysing interpretations of the Vietnam War. During their GCSE, the girls will develop many of the key skills nurtured at Key Stage 3. Discussion, analysis and formulating informed historical judgements are vital elements to this.

Our A Level course is now well established and highly regarded. We follow Edexcel's GCE History. The girls will have the opportunity to investigate and analyse the real nature of Civil Rights in the USA, Life in Stalin's Russia and Germany from 1900 to 1945. In addition, they will be guided as they undertake a university-style assignment into any aspect of their choosing within international relations around the world between 1879 and 1980.

History is a remarkably versatile and practical subject. Part of its popularity at The Maynard is that it continues to be highly respected as excellent preparation for a wide variety of university courses and careers. History is many things but, above all, it's a detective story and a hugely enjoyable one at that!