History and Politics are, of course, distinct subjects with their own appeal and importance, but they are also an integral part of the broader curriculum that the school offers. History and historians are present in collaborations with other departments, in various trips and events, and as an intellectual underpinning for much of the academic activity in the school.

The Department's ethos is rooted in thoughtful research, sceptical analysis and academic rigour. It promotes a culture of conversation and debate. The Department's approach is an inclusive one, however, accepting the challenge of giving every Merchiston boy a sense of History and their place in the world. The curriculum has been devised so as to relate the history of Scotland to that of Britain, and to place Britain in a wider international context.

Simon Thompson MA: Head of Department
Mr Thompson teaches History throughout the School, and also Government & Politics in the VI Form. He is very interested in music and the performing arts and he oversees the School's Arts programme.  He is also Assistant Housemaster in Chalmers East House.  He specialises in cultural history and in the history of France since the Revolution.

James Dixon MA: Deputy Head Academic

Mr Dixon oversees the Cecil Stagg Society in School, which runs activities primarily aimed at the Scholars.  He teaches a range of History classes across the school and Government & Politics in the VI Form.  He is particularly interested in military history in general and the 16^th & 17^th century in particular.

James Boyd BA
Mr Boyd is Housemaster of Rogerson House, Director of Rugby and 1^st XV Coach.  He is particularly interested in 19^th Century Imperialism and 18^th - 20^th Century Russia.

Tom Blampied BA

Mr Blampied teaches History across the range of the school.  He also coaches rugby and is a Resident Tutor in Rogerson House.  His main interests include colonial India and Africa since the Second World War.

Philip Rossiter MA

Mr Rossiter is Head of Middle Years and Senior Housemaster.  He teaches a range of History classes from I Form to IV Form, as well as being, in several respects, a 'Renaissance man' in the wider school.  He has a particular interest in Tudor and Stuart England.

In addition to the obvious teaching resources, textbooks and technology in our three dedicated classrooms, the Department's greatest facility is the Spawforth Library, which houses very good History and Politics sections. We also make use of the libraries at our neighbouring universities.

The younger boys follow courses covering - very broadly - the Romans; the Medieval World; Renaissance, Reformation and Civil Wars; the British Empire and the World Wars.

In Shell and Fifth Forms the boys follow the Cambridge IGCSE Modern World syllabus. In particular, they follow international relations from 1919 to 1989, with depth studies of inter-war America and Germany. There is no coursework, but the boys sit three exam papers at the end of the course.

At A-level the Department follows the AQA board for History. We focus on the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, looking at the French and American Revolutions in the Lower Sixth and studying post-Napoleonic France in the Upper Sixth. There is also a coursework project on the British Empire in the Upper Sixth.  For Politics we take the Edexcel exams, covering UK politics and constitution in the lower sixth and political ideologies in the Upper Sixth.

The Department is keen to arrange trips away from school, ranging from Holyroodhouse Palace to Stirling Castle, and the Holyrood Parliament to Eastern Europe. Visiting speakers include academics from the universities and politicians of national as well as local standing. Our keenest boys take part in essay competitions for Oxbridge colleges and public speaking challenges arranged by the Historical Association.