The Foundation Year begins with a brief history of the College, followed by a study of the First World War. After Christmas, FY pupils undertake an independent research project into an aspect of the First World War before moving on to study the Slave Trade and its abolition, the American Civil War and Civil Rights in the USA.

The IGCSE course is studied in the Remove (Year 10) and Hundred (Year 11) and by pupils entering the Pre-Sixth Form (Year 11). Pupils study The Peace Settlement of 1919, the League of Nations, Germany 1918-45 and the Cold War.

In the Sixth Form, History is available for all pupils at both A level and in the International Baccalaureate programme.

The IB course consists of three examinations papers, a document paper, 20c. world topics and a regional study of Europe and the Middle East. In addition, all pupils write an Individual Assignment on a topic of their own choice. For the A Level course, the units studied are: British History 1930-1997; Italian Unification; Russia 1855-1964. The fourth unit is a 4000-word coursework assignment on a topic of the candidate’s choice.

Within these courses the department is concerned to make ideas come alive through the great philosophical systems that have shaped our world - nationalism, the varieties of democracy, liberalism, conservatism, socialism, fascism and communism.

A large number of pupils continue their historical studies at university. The department regularly organises lectures and visits.

The members of the department represent a wide range of interests and expertise. We have specialists in the Anglo-Saxon Monarchy, the Crusades, Stuart England, Oliver Cromwell, the Enlightenment, British Conservatism, the French Revolution, American history, Chinese and Japanese modern history, Political ideas, Nineteenth and Twentieth Century British and European History and the Cold War.