Overview
Through Social Studies, young people develop their understanding of the world by learning about other people and their values, in different times, places and circumstances; they also develop their understanding of their environment and of how it has been shaped.
Staff Names
M Barett (Faculty Head/History and Modern Studies Specialist)
J Sharkey (Geography Specialist)
Facilities
One dedicated Social Studies room with 2 PCs and an Interactive Whiteboard.

What your child will learn:
S1 Modern Studies
The Rights of the Child
History
Vikings
Geography
Where I Live
S2 Modern Studies
Comparison of Scotland and China
History
The Scottish Wars of Independence
Geography
The Geography of Scotland and China
S3 Modern Studies
Democracy in Scotland
History
New Lanark and the Industrial Revolution
Geography
The River Clyde
S4-S6 Pupils are entered for the National Qualification appropriate to their level. Depending on the
Qualification, pupils will learn within the Social Studies contexts or may work towards discreet
Geography or History courses. Some examples of courses in the senior school are:
Social Studies Housing, The Scottish Parliament and The UK Parliament
Geography Housing, Making a decision, Making a contrast, Physical environments, Human environments and Global ssues
History Mary Queen of Scots, The Atlantic Slave Trade, Race Relations in the USA
Your child will learn through:
- active learning which provides opportunities to observe, explore, experiment and play
- use of relevant contexts and experiences familiar to children and young people
- appropriate and effective use of technology
- both collaborative and independent learning
- discussion and informed debate
- interdisciplinary learning experiences, including John Muir Award in S2.
- learning outdoors, field trips, visits and input by external contributors.
How they will be assessed:
Assessment in Social Studies will focus on children and young people’s knowledge, understanding and skills in their studies of people, past events, society, place, environment, economy and business.
Evidence will be gathered as part of day-to-day learning, as children and young people describe and record, explore and analyse sources, interpret and display information, talk and debate with peers and adults, undertake investigations and present their thinking orally, in writing or in a multimedia format. Specific assessment tasks will also be used in assessing progress.
Wider links/achievements in learning:
The Social Studies Department has a well-established programme of field trips for each year group. Other excursions and visiting speakers are arranged on a class by class basis throughout the year.
In S2 pupils work towards the John Muir Award. This is an Outdoor Learning project, run in partnership with the Science and PE Departments. Here pupils get the opportunity to practise the field skills of map reading, observation, surveying and data collection. They also learn about protecting and conserving the environment and actively work with a Countryside Ranger to do so.
Field Trips:
S1 Vikingar
S2 The National Wallace Monument
S3 The Scottish Parliament and New Lanark
S4-S6 Loch Lomond National Park
