Why Study History?
In his classic of military history, The Face of Battle, former King's pupil Sir John Keegan wrote that the historian "...ought also to get away from papers, and walk about his subject wherever he can find traces of it on the ground..."
Exploring the past through travel is a fantastic reason for studying history, which is an ambition that we encourage all King's historians to fulfill, and there are many other excellent reasons for studying history at King's.
Our pupils:
- Develop a better understanding of the present by learning about the key events that have shaped our modern world
- Achieve skills of critical awareness about the reasons why historical events have taken place
- Weigh up the evidence and reach balanced conclusions about a wide variety of human issues
- Learn to communicate ideas and arguments clearly and effectively, both in discussion and on paper
- Realise that there are many different viewpoints about the past and understand the need for tolerance
- Enjoy the opportunity to find out more about people in all walks of life and what motivates them
Rich in Resources
The department is particularly rich in resources, with full collections of the Illustrated London News and Punch Magazine at the top of the list. Former pupils and members of staff have generously donated a large number of books and magazines in recent years. The school library also houses an excellent range of books on a variety of historical topics.
History Beyond King's
Our GCSE history results have been outstanding for many years. As a result of our wonderful facilities, many King's historians have gone on to study History at leading universities, as well as related degree subjects such as war studies, politics, archaeology and law. History has also provided an excellent basis for careers in areas such as law, public relations, business, publishing, teaching, civil service, psychology, accountancy, the armed forces and broadcasting.
The Rest is History ...
The Keegan History Society exists to promote discussion and lively debate about a wide range of historical matters. Meetings have been addressed by a variety of visiting speakers, including leading historians Sir John Keegan, Richard Holmes and, Boris Johnson. Sir John Keegan, who sadly passed away in August 2012 and whom the society is named after, was an eminent military historian, BBC Reith Lecturer and former pupil of King's.