Department of History and Modern Studies
Aims of the Department
The History and Modern Studies Department believes it has a significant contribution to make to the learning experience of the pupils in Oban High School. Through our curriculum we aim to motivate and challenge pupils to enable them to achieve their fullest potential.
Our department aims to equip pupils which knowledge and skills that will be of value to them throughout their lives.
We aim to encourage pupils to consider major issues, form opinions and work out values they can apply to the world around them, to acquire a deeper knowledge and understanding of the present day world and its connections with the past, our heritage.
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As a department we strive to –
· Provide a welcoming and focused learning environment.
· Provide high quality courses which meet the learning needs of all pupils.
· Provide our pupils with a wide range of learning experiences.
· Create an ethos of achievement where all attainment is celebrated – both academic and personal.
Our Team
Ms Christine Rae Principal Teacher History/Modern Studies
Mrs Kirsteen Binnie
Mr Desmond Thomson-Hale
Mrs Claire Smith
Mrs Lindsey Mitchell
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Why Study History/Modern Studies?
To answer this question we asked some of our present standard grade pupils their opinions. Here’s what they said –
• “I would recommend history because it’s good fun learning about the past and it’s the best social subject! It’s quite easy to remember stuff because we learn in a fun way.”
• “I would recommend history to a second year as there is no right answer necessarily, only theories, evidence and proof. It is excellent if you like asking questions.”
• “ because you learn so much and it is really interesting and I am really enjoying it, but you need to listen and put in a lot of work.”
As well as this, History and Modern Studies provide our young people with valuable skills which will be beneficial in the long term. Our pupils look at evidence, come to informed conclusions, evaluate and analyse information and learn how to write essays – an essential skill for anyone planning to continue onto further education.
Many students at college/university find themselves very thankful that they studied History and/or Modern Studies as it provided them with skills that are vital to their further education assessment.
What do we study?
History
S1/2
The Sources of History
Ancient Rome
The Wars of Independence
The Holocaust
Rebel Nation – The 1707 Union and Battle of Culloden
Scotland 1830s - 1930s
International Cooperation and Conflict 1890s – 1930s - World War One
People and Power in Germany. Weimar and Nazi Germany
Appeasement and the Road to war 1933 – 1939
From the Cradle to the Grave? – Social Welfare in Britain 1890s – 1951
Free at Last – Race Relations in the USA 1918 - 1968
Appeasement and the Road to War 1933 – 1939
Britain – 1850 – 1979 (welfare reforms, extension of the franchise)
Impact of The Great War 1914 - 1928
Germany – Versailles to the Outbreak of the Second World War
Students also undertake a dissertation
Modern Studies
S1/2
Rights and Responsibilites – forming opinions on issues for young people.
Representing the People and Election Campaign
Rich World/Poor World
Introduction to the USA
Standard Grade
Living in a Democracy
Changing Society
US Politics and Society
International Issues – European Union, NATO and Politics of Aid
Intermediate 1 and 2
Decision making in Central Government
Electoral Systems – Voting and Political Attitudes
Inequalities in Health and Wealth
Republic of South Africa
The USA
Higher
As above, but in more depth.
Department Activities
Our department runs very successful excursions for our pupils.
Battlefields Trip to France and Belgium.
Visit and tour of the Scottish Parliament.
Kilmartin Trip
We are also hoping to introduce visits to sites of local interest and to the new visitor centre at Culloden.
Useful Links
The following sites provide detailed and reliable access to information relevant to our courses –
History
Modern Studies
For past papers for both History and Modern Studies