As a department we encourage our pupils to be bold, free-thinkers, who question and consider all sides of an argument.  This principle is an extension of the philosophy which permeates all aspects of teaching and learning at Putney Park.

A study of history is in essence the fascinating story of humankind and its long journey from the recorded past to the present.  Free from the usual obligation to conform to the constraints and vagaries of political correctness.  Our pupils are given the liberating opportunity to fully examine the reasons behind the rise and fall of great nations and people, together with the concomitant socio-political consequences; however unpalatable they may be by contemporary standards.  As a result, our students have enjoyed academic success.

Hence we take the road away from 'fudged' history such as the History of Medicine, or the History of Transport.  We all know that history has been splintered by experts into discrete topics, leading to a lack of breath and depth of historical understanding.  Instead, we take with both hands a study of the achievements and failures of past Empires and nations, their values and the spirit and methods which they used to forge their places in history.  Above all, we do so, as far as sensibly possible, through their eyes not solely through our own.

With an emphasis on British and European political history, this includes cameos of a range of significant figures such as Godwinson, Cromwell, Pankhurst, Peel and Marx, Lenin, Hitler and JFK.  We offer history in the round and the opportunity to gain academic success as well as to develop a life-long passion for this most vital of subjects.

In summary, we prefer to define ourselves in terms of where we are going, not where we come from.

For more details please visit the History page in our emagazine.