History and Politics
About the Department
'Historical awareness should be an essential part of the education of all young people.' Council of Europe
The History and Politics Department aims to assist pupils to achieve the best possible grades in public examinations. The study of the subjects develops highly sought after skills: the ability to absorb and analyse information; to write under pressure; to structure arguments and to deploy information. The Department believes that the exploration of the past develops knowledge that can counter myths and decipher prejudice, and that the study of politics enriches students' civic identities.
The Department has an excellent record of public examination success. Each year a good number of pupils go on to study the subjects at university. In addition, former students are actively involved in various political parties and organisations. A former student - Dr Clare Jackson - lectures in History at Cambridge University.
Teaching and Learning
History
In the second form students revisit the reformation and the life of Mary, Queen of Scots; Muslim Empires and the first world War. This allows for a variety of case studies to be explored and trips out to the Edinburgh Mosque and the Battlefields of Flanders.
In the Third Form, pupils study Scottish History at the time of the Union of the Crowns and Parliaments; Slavery and Race Relations in the USA; and an aspect of the Era of World War II - Holocaust.
Study for GCSE in the Fourth and Fifth Forms covers International Relations, 1919-39; Russia, 1905-1941; Nazi Germany (Coursework) and British society 1906-18 (source based investigations).
The AS syllabus covers Italian unification 1830-70 and Britain in the age of Pitt and Liverpool.
For A2 pupils study Bismarck and the Unification of Germany; German Nationalism, 1815-1919 and carry out an independent investigation.
Government and Politics
The AS syllabus covers British Government and Politics, eg. parties, pressure groups, Parliament, PM and Cabinet, devolution.
For A2, pupils study Government and Politics; British political issues, eg. Northern Ireland, race, economy, welfare state; and Britain and the European Union.
Activities
When the School's busy schedule allows, the Department likes to take pupils on visits that enrich the educational experience. Regular visits are made to historic sites in Edinburgh and to the Scottish Parliament. We have organised visits to the European Parliament in Strasbourg and to the World War I battlefields in Belgium and France.
History and Politics
John Elder (Head of Department)
John studied for his BA at Hull University before going to Glasgow University where he was awarded an M.Litt for a thesis on Scottish Politics. His teaching qualification is from Birmingham University. Before joining Loretto he taught in Liverpool where he developed an attachment to Everton. He has taught at Glasgow University and organised teacher training courses for the British Council in Romania. He is active in politics and has been a candidate in both local and national elections.
Barry Cooper
Barry graduated from the University of St Andrew's in 2000 and went into teaching after a year in the city working in recruitment consultancy. He worked for four years at Epsom College in Surrey before moving to Loretto in 2005. At Loretto Barry teaches History and Government and Politics, coaches Hockey and Cricket, runs the Loretto Ladies Football club and the History/Philosophy Society. Barry took on the role of Assistant Director of Studies at the start of 2006 to work on aspects of Loretto's academic policy.