Social Subjects
The Social Subjects Faculty is comprised of History, Geography and Modern Studies as well as vocational subjects such as Travel and Tourism and Scottish Studies.
We aim to provide the highest quality of education by not only developing relevant knowledge in each subject but improving key skills, such as source handling, engagement data and mapping.
All pupils in S3-4 History, Geography and Modern Studies are given the opportunity to sit National 4 or National 5.
National 4 courses have an emphasis on skills development and the application of those skills. There is no external exam and pupils are assessed by completing individual assessments throughout the course.
N4/5 History
British Unit – Atlantic Slave Trade 1770-1807 – Focusses on Britain’s involvement in the Slave Trade and the experience of enslaved Africans.
European/World Unit – Free at Last? Civil Rights in USA – Focusses on immigration to America and the struggle to achieve Civil Rights in the 1960s.
Scottish Unit – Migration and Empire 1830-1939 – Focusses on migration to and from Scotland, and the impact that Scots had throughout the British empire.
N4/5 Geography
Physical Environments Unit - Key topics will include location of landscape type; formation of key landscape features; land use management; and weather.
Human Environments Unit - Key topics will include: contrasts in development; world population distribution and change; and issues in changing urban and rural landscapes.
Global Issues Unit - Key topics will include climate change and sustainability; the impact of world climates; environmental hazards; trade and globalisation; and development and health.
N4/5 Modern Studies
Democracy in Scotland and the United Kingdom - In this Unit, learners will develop a knowledge and understanding of the UK’s political structure including the place of Scotland within this structure.
Social Issues in the United Kingdom - In this Unit we focus on crime and the law. We will study the causes of crime, the impact of crime on individuals and society and the role of individuals, the police, the legal system and the state in tackling crime.
International Issues - In this Unit, pupils will carry out a political study of a major world power - the USA .The study of a world power focuses on the political system of the world power, its international relations and socio-economic issues within the major world power.
Higher History
British Unit – Britain 1851-1951 – This unit is essay based and covers Britain’s shifts towards democracy and a welfare state in the 19th and 20th century.
European/World Unit – Russia 1881-1921 – This unit is also essay based and covers the collapse of the Tsarist state and Russia becoming a communist country.
Scottish Unit – Migration and Empire 1830-1939 – This unit is based on source questions and focusses on migration to and from Scotland, and the impact that Scots had throughout the British empire.
Higher Geography
Physical: Hydrosphere, Lithosphere, Biosphere and Atmosphere
Human: Urban, Rural Land Use Conflicts, Rural Land Degradation and Population
Global: Climate Change
OS Mapping: Evaluate the physical and human landscapes for the suitability of a new project like a shopping centre.
Higher Modern Studies
Section 1: Democracy in Scotland and the United Kingdom
Candidates study aspects of the democratic political system in the UK including the place of Scotland within this system.
Section 2: Social Inequality
In the social inequality context, candidates focus on the reasons for social and health inequalities in the UK and the success of Government measures taken to tackle inequalities.
Section 3: World powers
A study of the USA focusing on the political structure, participation, representation and socio-economic issues.
Scottish Studies
Scottish Studies can be undertaken in S5 or S6 and is a Level 5 Vocational Course which consists of studying History, Geography and Travel and Tourism within a Scottish context. It allows learners to improve their knowledge of Scottish issues while developing the key skills of each subject involved. There is no external exam and pupils are assessed through internal unit assessments.
Travel and Tourism
Travel and Tourism can be undertaken in S5 or S6 and is a Level 5 Vocational Course which consists of researching key themes of the Travel and Tourism industry and helps develop key skills like employability and communication in a real world setting.