Social Subjects
Faculty of Social Subjects
Department Staff
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Staff |
Subject(s) |
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Mrs Brailsford (Faculty Head) |
Geography |
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Ms Macleod |
Geography |
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Mrs Chadwick |
Geography |
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Mrs Hobson |
History |
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Mr Tyrrell |
Modern Studies/Politics/History |
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Miss Benhaddad |
Modern Studies/History |
- S1/2 BGE Social Subjects
S1/2 are taught all 3 Social Subjects (Geography, History and Modern Studies). Sometimes this is delivered by the same teacher 3 periods a week, however often classes are split between teachers which means classes might be taught different topics by each teacher. Each topic has one piece of formal homework and an end of unit assessment. It is expected that pupils take home their work booklets or use the recourses on the class team (instructions below) to revise for the assessments.
In S2 pupils do 3 topics linked to Social Subjects that go into more detail than the S1 topics. Once pupil have made their subject choices for S3 they complete a research topic picking a theme linked to their S3 choices.
The order of topics varies each year.
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S1 Topics (6 in total) |
S2 Topics (4 in total) |
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Geography – Global Warming and Natural Regions |
Geography - Population and Resources
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History – Marvellous Medicine and Wars of Independence |
History – Trade in Enslaved Africans |
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Modern Studies – Elections in Scotland and Social Inequalities |
Modern Studies- Terrorism |
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Research project
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- S3 BGE Subjects
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Geography |
History |
Modern Studies |
People and Society |
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Topic 1: OS Map Skills
Overview: Basic map skills such as using four and six figure grid references, key and symbols and scale. This will support young people as they move into S4 and are assessed on OS map skills in the N4/5 course
Topic 2: Physical Landscapes
Overview: Pupils will lead their own learning and learn about the following landscape types, how they are formed, the features within them, how people use them and the conflicts that occur there: · Glaciated · Coasts · Limestone · Rivers
Topic 3: Sustainability/Circular Economy
Overview: Pupils will learn about the importance of sustainability and how to be more sustainable. This will lead to a L4 unit award in sustainability. Pupils will then understand how a circular economy supports a more sustainable approach
Topic 4: Hazards
Overview: Pupils will learn about the features, cause, impact and management of earthquakes, volcanoes and tropical storms
Topic 5: Population
Pupils will learn about development indicators, population distribution and density and population pyramids |
Topic 1: The Jacobites
Overview: This topic investigates the background to the Jacobite uprisings and explores why they were fighting. We then look at various uprisings with a focus on the 1745 rising which precedes the battle of Culloden. The course then explores the impact of Culloden on Scotland and takes in the Highland Clearances and subsequent migration of Scots to countries such as Canada. We also explore migration to Scotland with a focus on Irish migrants.
Throughout the course, the aim is to build up essential history skills such as source interpretation and evaluation, essay writing, explaining and describing events and research skills.
Topic 2: Scotland and the Era of the Great War
Overview: This topic investigates Scotland’s role in WWI by focusing on the following areas: - The Western Front - Social impact of WWI - Industrial impact of WWI - Political impact of WWI
Throughout the course, the aim is to build up essential history skills such as source interpretation and evaluation, essay writing, explaining and describing events and research skills.
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Topic 1: Israel Gaza War
Overview:
A study of the cause, consequences, and responses to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza.
Topic 2: Democracy in the UK
A study of the following topics at a UK level:
- Power and decision-making - Participation - Influence - Representation - Voting Systems
Also skills of making conclusions and making decisions based on presented evidence.
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The subject content depends on the teacher taking the class as the course is very flexible but covers 3 key themes:
Topic 1: Investigating Skills Topic 2: Comparing and Contrasting Topic 3: Decision Making
Pupils also link different key ideas to each topic. |
- Senior Phase (S4-6)
Geography:
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N4/5 |
Higher |
AH |
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Course Components
N5 Question Paper: Covers whole course 80 marks
N5 Assignment: 20 marks
Total = 100 marks |
Course Components
Paper 1: Physical and Human Environments = 50 marks Paper 2: Global Issues and OS Map Skills = 50 marks Assignment = 30 marks
Total = 130 marks |
Course Components
Question Paper = 50 marks Folio: Geographical Study = 60 marks Geographical Issues = 40 marks
Total = 150 marks |
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Topics Delivered: Physical: · Glaciated and Coastal Landscapes · Land Use and conflict · Weather
Human: · Urban change and its management · Population · Rural (farming)
Global Issues: · Hazards (Earthquakes, Volcanic eruptions and Tropical Storms) · Climate Change
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Topics Delivered: Physical: · Glaciated and Coastal Landscapes · Hydrosphere (rivers, drainage basins and hydrographs) · Atmosphere · Biosphere (soils)
Human: · Urban change and its management · Land Use conflict and its management · Rural Land Degradation · Population
Global Issues: · Development and Health · Climate Change
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Topics Delivered:
Skills: · Gathering Techniques · Processing techniques · OS map skills · Statistics |
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QS Links: National 5 Geography - Course overview and resources - Qualifications Scotland |
QS Links: Higher Geography - Course overview and resources - Qualifications Scotland |
QS Links: Advanced Higher Geography - Course overview and resources - Qualifications Scotland |
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Website support/Revision: Qualifications Scotland - Understanding Standards: National 5 National 5 Geography - BBC Bitesize National 5 Geography - Internet Geography |
Website support/Revision: Qualifications Scotland - Understanding Standards: Higher Higher Geography - BBC Bitesize |
Website support/Revision: Qualifications Scotland - Understanding Standards: Advanced Higher |
History:
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N4/5 |
Higher |
AH |
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Course Components Question Paper (2 hours 20 minutes): Covers whole course - 80 marks
Assignment: 20 marks
Total = 100 marks
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Course Components Paper 1 (90 minutes) : British and European and World History (essay-based) = 44 marks.
Paper 2 (90 minutes) : Scottish History (source-based) = 36 marks.
Assignment = 30 marks
Total = 110 marks
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Course Components Question Paper (3 hours) : 2 essays and 3 source-based questions – 90 marks
Dissertation – 50 marks
Total - 140 marks
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Topics Delivered: Scotland (Covered in S3) The Era of the Great War, 1900–1928 · Scots on the Western Front · Social impact of WWI · Industrial impact of WWI · Political impact of WWI
Britain Changing Britain, 1760–1914 · Health and housing · Industry (Textile mills and coal mining) · Transport (Canals and railways) · Political change
Europe and World The Cold War 1945–89 · Reasons for the emergence of the Cold War · Flashpoints – Hungary, Berlin and Cuba · The Vietnam War · Changing relations between the superpowers, 1968–89
**(S5-6 National 5 will cover roughly the same content as the Higher course.)** |
Topics Delivered: British Britain, 1851–1951 · An evaluation of the reasons why some women were given the vote in 1918. · An evaluation of the reasons why the Liberals introduced social welfare reforms, 1906–14. · An assessment of the effectiveness of the Liberal social welfare reforms. · An assessment of the effectiveness of the Labour reforms, 1945–51.
European and World USA, 1918–1968 · An evaluation of the reasons for changing attitudes towards immigration in the 1920s. · An evaluation of the obstacles to the achievement of civil rights for Black Americans, up to 1941. · An evaluation of the reasons for the development of the Civil Rights campaign, after 1945. · An assessment of the effectiveness of the Civil Rights movement in meeting the needs of Black Americans, up to 1968.
Scottish The Wars of Independence, 1249–1328 · Alexander III and the succession problem 1286–92. · John Balliol and Edward I 1292–96. · William Wallace and Scottish resistance. · The rise and triumph of Robert Bruce. |
Topics Delivered: Scotland: independence and kingship, 1249–1334 · The kingdom under Alexander III, 1249–86 · The Guardianship and the Great Cause, 1286–92 · Reign of King John, 1292–96 · Edward I’s occupation of Scotland, 1296–97 · Contribution of William Wallace, 1297–1305 · Scottish resistance and English invasions, 1298–1305 · Usurpation and Civil War, 1306–09 · King Robert and the war against England, 1310–23 · King Robert and the governance of Scotland, 1309–20 · Succession and peace, 1324–34
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QS Links: National 5 History - Course overview and resources - Qualifications Scotland |
QS Links: Higher History - Course overview and resources - Qualifications Scotland |
QS Links: Advanced Higher History - Course overview and resources - Qualifications Scotland |
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Website support/Revision: Qualifications Scotland - Understanding Standards: National 5 |
Website support/Revision: |
Website support/Revision: Qualifications Scotland - Understanding Standards: Advanced Higher |
Modern Studies:
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N4/5 |
Higher |
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Course Components Question Paper (2 hours 20 minutes): Covers whole course - 80 marks
Assignment: 20 marks
Total = 100 marks
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Course Components: Paper 1 : Essay questions = 52 marks.
Paper 2: Source questions = 28 marks.
Assignment = 30 marks
Total = 110 marks
Paper One: 1. Democracy in Scotland/UK 2. Social Issues 3. International Issues/World Power Paper Two – Skills: 1. Reliability 2. Conclusion 3. Objectivity 4. Conclusions Assignment |
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Topics Delivered:
S4:
Democracy in the UK - Power and decision-making - Participation - Influence - Representation - Voting Systems
Crime and the Law - Nature of crime - Causes of crime - Consequences of crime - Criminal justice system - Responses to crime
World Power – USA - Political system - Influence of other countries - Social and economic issues - Effectiveness in tackling social and economic issues
S5/6:
Democracy in Scotland - Power and decision-making - Participation - Influence - Representation - Voting Systems
Social Inequality - Nature of social inequality - Causes of social inequality - Consequences of social inequality - Criminal justice system - Responses to social inequality
World Power – USA - Political system - Influence of other countries - Social and economic issues - Effectiveness in tackling social and economic issues
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Topics Delivered: 1. Democracy in Scotland/UK - Holding Scottish Government to account - Electoral systems (AMS vs FPTP) - Alternatives for governance of Scotland - Citizens influence through pressure groups 2. Social and economic inequality in UK - Causes of income and wealth inequality - Causes of health inequality - Effect of inequalities - Effectiveness of responses to socio-economic inequality 3. World power: USA - International influence - Checks and balances - Impact of socio-economic inequality on Black Americans - Effectiveness of government responses to socio-economic inequality |
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QS Links: National 5 Modern Studies - Course overview and resources - Qualifications Scotland Qualifications Scotland - Understanding Standards: National 5 |
QS Links: · Higher Modern Studies - Course overview and resources - Qualifications Scotland |
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Website support/Revision: |
Website support/Revision: All classwork materials and support is available on class teams page.
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Politics
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Higher only |
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Course Components Paper 1: Essay questions = 52 marks. Paper 2: Source questions = 28 marks. Assignment = 30 marks Total = 110 marks |
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Topics Delivered:
Political Theory Power, authority and legitimacy Democracy
Political Systems of Scotland and the USA The legislative branch The executive branch
Political Parties and Elections Political campaign management strategies Theories of voting behaviour
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QS Links: Higher Politics - Course overview and resources - Qualifications Scotland
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Website support/Revision: Class Team
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Travel and Tourism
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N4/N5 only |
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Course Components: 4 outcomes / No exam – National 4/5 Skills for Work: Travel and Tourism is an introductory qualification in travel and tourism. It develops the skills, knowledge and attitudes, needed for work in the travel and tourism industry. Learners will develop:
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Topics Delivered: · Customer Service · Employability · Scotland · UK and Worldwide
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QS Links: Skills for Work: Travel and Tourism National 4 (SCQF level 4) - Qualifications Scotland Skills for Work: Travel and Tourism National 5 (SCQF level 5) - Qualifications Scotland
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S4 People and Society
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N3/4 only |
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Course Components: No exam – all internally assessed pass or fail |
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Topics Delivered: · Investigation Skills · Comparing and Contrasting · Decision Making · Added Value Unit (N4 only)
Subject content is dependent on teacher(s) taking the class. |
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QS Links: |
- Accessing resources on Teams:
All resources can be found in the class team (usually a copy of the pupil booklet, teaching PowerPoint and Homework assignments)
