“Not to know what took place before one was born is to remain a child forever. “ Cicero
We follow a chronological historical path from three to thirteen. In an age when future citizens may ‘drop’ history at age fourteen we devote seven weeks at the start of the final year to helping children create their own ‘BIG HISTORICAL PICTURE.’ We expect our pupils to have an understanding of what they are doing, why and how it is relevant to them in today’s world. History should be both challenging and enjoyable.
“What is past is prelude.” William Shakespeare
History is the only subject to deal exclusively with events through time. Nothing creates a sense of perspective better than history which derives from a variety of sources, all of which beg questions and demand critical thinking. History reinforces oracy, literacy and numeracy, it teaches children about continuity and change, cause and effect and encourages them to grapple with moral questions, marshal their opinions and listen to and measure the arguments of others. In short history is essential to the quest for wisdom and virtue.
“History should inspire.” Adolf Hitler
History is a human drama with characters just like us, but who predominantly lived before us. These were people of flesh and blood who loved and fought, failed and triumphed, laughed, cried and eventually… died, most disappearing into a vast, unremembered past. The ‘his and increasingly her story’ that we recognise today, began with an ancient Greek, Herodotus, who told incredible stories about the minutiae of his travels around the Mediterranean. There is probably no better method of instilling an interest and enthusiasm for history in young people, but because two millennia later we recognise that learning is a unique experience for each individual, story telling is just one of a variety of methods we use.
'Does history tell a story? Oh, dear me yes, history tells a story.' Stephen Fry
“Variety is the secret of success in history teaching.” 
We are a dedicated and passionate teaching team. We believe whenever possible in walking in the footsteps of those who have made history. For example, the Pre-Prep visit local houses such as Shugborough. The Lower School celebrate different cultures through special Egyptian, Roman and Viking Days and the Upper School historical experience is enhanced with visits to significant castles, battlefields and industrial revolution sites. There is an annual History Mystery Trip for real enthusiasts and in response to parental demand, family groups from Foremarke have travelled to Egypt, Peru and China.
“History may not repeat itself precisely but it certainly rhymes and chimes for those prepared to listen.”
Julian Hawtree
For the Diamond Jubilee this year, Upper School pupils are being asked to complete a newspaper's front page on a theme drawn from the past 60 years. A template is provided below for students to download - commemorative mugs await all pupils later this term!
Jubilee Newspaper Template