Social Subjects

Welcome to the Social Subjects Department

History and Modern Studies are important for young people to understand the place where they live and the heritage of their family and community. Through History and Modern Studies, young people develop their understanding of the world by learning about their own people and what has shaped them, other people and their values, in different times, places and circumstances, and how their environment has been shaped. They learn about human achievements and to make sense of changes in society, conflicts and environmental issues. With greater understanding comes the opportunity to influence events by exercising informed and responsible citizenship.

We aim to make History and Modern Studies enjoyable and accessible for all pupils of varying abilities. We believe that through our subjects pupils will be able to understand the world around them and enable them to become effective contributors and responsible citizens of the future. After all History is the future…

To access the Standard Grade area - click here

To access the Higher History area - click here

To access the Intermediate History area - click here

To access the Advanced Higher History area - click here

To access the Higher Modern Studies area - click here

To access the Intermediate Modern Studies area - click here

Standard Grade History

In Standard Grade history, pupils in S3 and S4 will all study three units of work:

Unit 1B: Changing Life in Scotland and Britain, 1830 - 1930

This unit looks at the social, economic and political developments in Scotland and Britain. Here pupils will see the effects of change in society and study the causes and consequences of change.

Unit 2A: International Co-operation and Conflict, 1890 - 1920

In this unit, pupils will develop an understanding of their heritage as members of one country involved in a wider world community. The period studied includes the First World War and its effects not only on Scotland / Britain but also on the world stage.

Unit 3D: People and Power, 1918 - 1939

The theme of the third unit, 'People and Power', is the struggle for political and cultural dominance within individual countries. The focus of the unit is Germany 1918 - 1939, taking developments from the Treaty of Versailles at the end of World War One to the rise of Hitler and the Nazis.

Revision

In this section of the website you will find useful links to external websites and course notes which will help with your revision.

Click here for past papers

Click here to access BBC Bitesize revision

Click here for revision notes for Unit 1B

Click here for revision notes for Unit 2A

Click here for revision notes for Unit 3D

Click here for Unit 1B KU questions

Click here for Unit 1B ES questions

Click here for Unit 2A KU questions

Click here for Unit 2A ES questions

Click here for Unit 3D KU questions

Click here for Unit 3D ES questions

Click here for the 8 mark essay guide

Click here for the Quick Guide to Enquiry Skills questions

Click here for Guide to Enquiry Skills with examples

Click here for your Personal Learning Plan

Click here to return to top

Higher History

The study of history at higher level builds on the skills gained at Standard Grade, in particular those of evaluating and critical thinking. The Higher extends student awareness of their own heritage and identity in local, national, European and world wide contexts.

Course Details

Option C Later Modern History

1 Britain 1850 - 1979

2 The USA 1919 – 1968 : The Large Scale State

3 The Wars of Independence, 1286-1328

Revision

In this section of the website you will find useful links to external websites and course notes which will help with your revision.

Click here for past papers

Click here to access BBC Bitesize revision

Click here for access to Liberal Reforms revision

Click here for access to Civil Rights 1945 -1968 revision

Click here for access to a Civil Rights timeline

Click here for access to the Wars of Independence revision

Click here to access the Wars of Independence resources

Click here for notes on Democracy

Click here for notes on Votes for Women

Click here for notes on the Liberal Reforms 1906-1914

Click here for notes on the Labour Reforms 1945- 1951

Click here for notes on American Immigration

Click here for notes on Boom and Bust

Click here for notes on Civil Rights 1920s-1930s

Click here for notes on Civil Rights 1945-1968

Click here for notes on the Wars of Independence

Click here for the questions on the Wars of Independence

Click here for source questions on the Wars of Independence

Click here for Wars of Independence revision notes

Click here for the Higher source question guide

Click here for extra source questions

Click here for Revision advice

Click here for your Personal Learning Plan

Click here for Unit Overviews

Click here to return to top

Intermediate History

In Intermediate History pupils will study a variety of different topics on British, European and World History.

Course Details

1 From Cradle to Grave (Scottish and British Social Welfare 1890 - 1951)

2 European and World : In the Shadow of the Bomb

3 Free at Last (Race Relations USA 1918 - 1968)

Revision

In this section of the website you will find useful links to external websites and course notes which will help with your revision.

Click here for Intermediate 2 past papers

Click here for Intermediate 1 past papers

Click here for notes on Cradle to the Grave

Click here for notes on the In the Shadow of the Bomb: The Cold War

Click here for the notes on Free at Last?

Click here for access to a Civil Rights timeline

Click here to return to top

Advanced Higher History

The study of History at advanced higher level aims to develop skills of analysing issues, developments and events, drawing conclusions and evaluating sources. An excellent course for those planning further study at university in any field.

Course Details

Germany: Versailles to the outbreak of World War II

This included studying the creation of the Weimar Republic, military defeat, the November revolution and the Treaty of Versailles. The social and political instability through the Stresemann years of relative stability eventually examining the collapse of the Republic and the rise of Nazism.

Revision

In this section of the website you will find useful links to external websites and course notes which will help with your revision.

Click here for past papers

Click here to return to top

Higher Modern Studies

The study of modern studies at Higher level builds on the skills gained at Standard Grade in all social subjects, in particular those of evaluating and critical thinking. Higher modern studies allows the student to study in depth the political and social processes involved in the following areas:

Power conflict and resolution

Formation and application of values

Social and cultural differences

Social and economic development

These processes generate a series of four study themes which fall into two syllabus headings of UK Politics and Society and International Issues. These are summarised as follows:

UK Politics and Society Politics in society

Social Issues in the UK Health and Wealth in society

International Issues Ethnic minorities in the USA