Our Philosophy

The main aim of the History Department at Bedford Modern School is to combine academic excellence with enjoyment of the subject for its own sake. Teachers in the department place a strong emphasis on ensuring that all students reach their full potential, in terms of examination results, and through many of the exciting opportunities for personal enrichment that History can can offer.

Trips to the First World War Battlefields, the Imperial War Museum, and the National Archives at Kew are all part of the curriculum, and visiting speakers address the History meetings of the Humanities Society - these have included such notables as Professor Richard Holmes and Dr. Stephen Tuck.

By its very nature, History contributes more to the spiritual, moral and ethical development of the individual student and to their awareness of citizenship than almost any other subject in the curriculum. The key to success as an historian (at any level) is being able to understand and respect different points of view, thus providing an invaluable 'life skill' and helping to combat bigotry and intolerance. This is central to the teaching of BMS students of all ages.

One of the key aims in developing Historians is to enable them to express themselves clearly and logically. The study of History places a strong emphasis on key literacy skills, in particular allowing students to write coherantly and express ideas fully.

A study of the past enhances students' understanding of these issues in relation to their lives in the Twenty-First Century. The History Course at Bedford Modern School is specifically designed to give opportunities for these issues to be confronted in all year groups by studying topics that require them to think and make judgements in all these areas.