History isn't just the study of our past - it's your future. Or, as a Roman historian said about two thousand years ago, "a knowledge of history is the best preparation for real life". History is the key to understanding the world we live in. It explains how our society has developed, why politicians behave as they do, why countries react to events in the way that they do. History throws light on the boundless potential of ordinary people.
History requires and develops skills which are vital to future advancement in any career. It is particularly valuable preparation for careers in Law and Journalism. A good historian can weigh up evidence, test it for reliability, recognise and compensate for prejudice, analyse, evaluate, make reasoned judgements, and communicate results in a clear, concise language.
The course studied at Sir Wilfrid Martineau School is Social and Economic History, which deals with the great changes that took place in England after 1700. The course involves the preparation of two pieces of coursework based on original research and field visits. One part of the course deals with the development of a modern multi-cultural Britain and another with the changing role of women in Modern English Society.