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Second Year course brings with it a study of the transition into the Early
Modern era. Pupils begin with a murder investigation – did Richard III actually kill the Princes or not? Pupils put Richard on trial and evaluate the available sources, critically appraise Shakespeare’s myth and develop vital powers of analysis as they learn not to believe everything they read. Themes from the First Year are then carried forward as we examine the problems experienced by the Tudor kings (such as Henry VII) and note the common denominators with earlier figures. An investigation of Henry VIII doesn’t simply include the story of the six wives but demands an understanding of the changing religious context through a presentation of Martin Luther ‘This is your life’ and an investigation of the complex factors appertaining to Henry’s decision to break with Rome. Pupils are then encouraged to understand other key developments of the period and to follow European links as they study the Conquistadors and develop board games to illustrate why the Spanish and Portuguese invaders were able to be so successful against the Aztecs and Incas. The theme of ‘continuity and change’ brings us back to England to see some of the problems of the Mid Tudors. Then we observe Elizabeth facing the Spanish Armada and study the sources to investigate why it failed, and trace the developing role of parliament as we move on to examine the problems of the Stuart kings and their mistakes, culminating in an investigation of why Charles I was executed. A visit to Hampton Court is planned – an opportunity to see one of the magnificent dwellings commissioned by Thomas Wolsey (the boys put together a broadsheet on Wolsey playing on his nickname the ‘fat maggot’).
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