Social Subjects
Social Subjects are recognised as important and high achieving subjects in St Andrew’s. The faculty comprises three departments Geography, History and Modern Studies. The study of the past, the present and how our world was formed gives young people a deeper understanding of fundamental issues today. The three discrete departments each form crucial parts of the broad general education young people receive in St Andrew’s from S1-S3.
History
The study of History gives our young people an understanding of how events in the past have led to change which helps explain why the world is the way it is today.
Our young people learn about a range of historical issues:
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S1 Scottish Wars of Independence and Women’s History and the Impact on Scotland
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S2 WW2 and Swinging 60s
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S3 Great War in Scotland
At National level, pupils can specialise in up to two social subjects.
National 4 and 5 History
The topics covered and methods of assessment are listed below:
Course Content
- Nazi Germany 1918-1939
- The Atlantic Slave Trade 1770 - 1809
Assessment
At National 5 level, pupils must pass three end of unit assessments, complete an assignment of their choice during the year which accounts for 20% of their grade. Finally pupils sit a final exam worth 80% of their grade. Pupils get an October assessment in N5 History.
At National 4 level, pupils complete an assignment of their choice and three unit assessments in order to pass. There is no final written exam.
Further Information
S5 & S6 History
The faculty offers higher qualifications in all three discrete subjects, details of which are listed below:
S5 & S6 National 5
Course Content
- Migration and Empire
- Free at Last
- Atlantic Slave Trade 1770-1809
Assessment
At National 5 level, pupils must pass three end of unit assessments, complete an assignment of their choice during the year which accounts for 20% of their grade. Finally pupils sit a final exam worth 80% of their grade. Pupils get an October assessment in N5 History.
Pupils get an October assessment in N5 History.
Further Information
Higher History
Course Content
- Britain 1851-1951
- Germany 1815-1938
- Cold War 1945-1987
- Migration and Empire 1839-1939
Assessment
At Higher level, pupils complete an assignment of their choice during the year which accounts for one third of their final grade. Pupils sit a final exam worth two thirds of their grade. Pupils get an October assessment in Higher History.
Further Information
Advanced Higher History
Course Content
- Germany from Democracy to Dictatorship 1918 – 1939
- The Creation of Weimar
- Weimar’s Economic & Social problems
- The Stressemann Era
- The Collapse of Weimar
- The NSDAP consolidate power
- The Nature of the National Socialist Regime
- Economic & Foreign policy
- Resistance to the Regime
Assessment
At Advanced Higher level, pupils complete a dissertation of their choice during the year which accounts for 50/140 marks, roughly 1/3rd of their grade. Pupils sit a final exam worth 90/140 or roughly 2/3rds of their grade.
Further Information
What Skills are Developed in Social Subjects?
Learners will develop transferable skills such as problem solving and teamwork when collaborating with others. In addition, the Social Subjects faculty uses cooperative learning and Making Thinking Visible learning techniques which encourages the development of both academic and social skills.
Pupils will be able to:
- Work cooperatively with others
- Develop social skills
- Improve literacy and numeracy skills
- Develop ICT skills
- Develop skills of problem solving
- Gain an understanding of key social subjects concepts
- Explore issues such as health and well being.
How is the Social Subjects BGE framework structured?
- Social Subjects BGE is divided into level 3 and level 4 experiences and outcomes.
- Level 4 outcomes will prepare pupils for SQA National 4 and National 5 qualifications and beyond.
What are the features of effective learning and teaching in Social Subjects?
- Personalisation and choice in the nature of classroom tasks to support skills development. All tasks encourage creativity and imagination alongside higher order thinking skills.
- A combination of independent, differentiated learning and collaboration among pupils to complete larger tasks.
How do we build on prior learning?
- Increasing challenging contexts develop learners’ practical skills and depth of understanding.
- Course content connects with learners’ experiences and interests in the real world and builds upon their existing knowledge.
What are the broad features of assessment in Social Subjects?
- Assessment will focus on cooperative work and on creative tasks
- Other assessments will include short summative (written) approaches.
- Peer and self-assessment also play a significant part when progressing through the course.
- Formative assessment (oral and written feedback) by teacher.
Connections with other areas of the curriculum
- The development of problem solving skills provides links to Maths, Science and Technical subjects.
- The development literacy skills including extended writing is closely tied to English
- Creative tasks have links to art and design.
- Activities to support development of skills in literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing are embedded in activities throughout the course.
- Use of digital technology to enhance learning through of iPads
- Skills for work are built into our courses links with world of work.
- Nurture principles are incorporated into in our courses.
