Humanities

Do you fancy yourself as the CEO of a multi-national? Or the creative mind behind the next “big thing” to hit the shelves?

Perhaps you see yourself as the future Chancellor or the promotional guru responsible for successfully bringing products to market. Maybe you are unsure of what you would like to do for your career and would like to give yourself a grounding in personal finance so that you become a more “savvy” consumer or a more effective employee one day? Whatever your level of interest, within the Business Department there will be a course for you.

The Business Department is a thriving part of the Bede’s academic community. It has long since been a popular choice for many pupils with the wide range of courses available including GCSE Economics, GCSE Business Studies, A Level Economics, A Level Business Studies as well as Level 2 (equivalent to GCSE) and Level 3 (equivalent to A level) BTEC qualifications in Business.

Each course is designed to enable pupils to apply theory learnt in the classroom to “real world” settings and there is no requirement to have studied any of the subjects before selecting one of the courses as an option. Each course will challenge students to think creatively and reason between fact and fiction as qualitative and qualitative data is factored in, in order to draw conclusions.

Pupils learn to balance numbers with human values, understand big and small organisations, and think responsibly in order to make sure that business activities remain sustainable for the future.

Whatever the level, there is a network of support including trips, guest speakers, societies as well as a business for pupils to become involved with in order to hone their entrepreneurial skills. Along the way, pupils learn leadership skills as well as gaining the chance to work in teams in order to broaden experiences and develop greater confidence. 

We offer iGCSEs in Business and Economics, both of which are assessed wholly by examination. Each course investigates entrepreneurial behaviour, looking at key business functions and how businesses are affected by the overall economic environment. Pupils can then opt to specialise depending on interest and ability. 

At Sixth Form, we offer A Level Business Studies and A Level Economics as well as Level 3 BTEC Business (which is equivalent to an A Level). The A Level Business course involves the analysis of a number of contemporary corporate strategies, including disruptive businesses such as Uber or Airbnb, as well as the concept of entrepreneurship.

The Business BTEC course is more hands-on and the assessment tasks range from assignments and project work, case studies, role play, group and individual research, presentations and the creation of advertising campaigns. 

Finally, the Economics A Level enables pupils to develop an understanding of recent economic events, developing skills in economic analysis, learning how to explain and analyse economic issues and arguments, evaluation economic information, and organise, present and communicate ideas and judgements clearly. 

All courses offered complement most academic programmes, and typically pupils interested in pursuing a career in marketing or advertising might combine one of these courses with Art, Photography or Media. Those pupils who are considering studying Economics or Management at university might consider combining one of these courses with Mathematics, History, Politics or Philosophy and Religion.

All courses consider international issues and require students to think globally, making the Business and Economics Department a popular choice for those interested in a career in hospitality, travel, tourism and international business. 

The power of Geography as a subject is that pupils learn a range of skills whilst engaging with fascinating, real-world learning.

They are captivated by the awe and wonder of our dynamic natural world, they are challenged by the thorny issues of a rapidly developing human world and they are moved by the plight of both humans and other species caught between these forces of change.

Geography is a “must have” subject for pupils wanting to make sense of and act on issues relating to their complex world. At Bede’s, carefully chosen, relevant geography courses are taught by well-qualified and passionate subject specialists. Urgent issues such as climate change, environmental degradation, poverty and inequality are taught alongside more traditional topics.

Our Geography pupils develop a range of solution-focused capabilities including problem-solving and decision-making. They explore complex issues whilst weighing ethical considerations and competing interests. Bede’s geographers demonstrate strong abilities in literacy, numeracy and working with graphs and maps. They are digitally competent but equally capable in the softer skills of working with, listening to and persuading others. They learn the skills of constructing their own strong arguments whilst analysing and evaluating those of others. Academically rigorous skills of enquiry, investigation and critical thinking serve to integrate the knowledge and methods of the natural and social sciences.

A rich extension programme provides challenge to our most able pupils through attendance at off-site lectures and school-based seminars and masterclasses.

Geography brings the real-world into the classroom but often takes the classroom into the real world. We make full use of our local East Sussex environments but also travel further afield to London and Devon. Pupils will have the option to sign up for trips to explore the geography of Iceland or the Azores.

A Bede’s Geography course is quite literally your passport to the world.

We aim for Politics to be exciting at Bede’s because it is through debate, discussion and disagreement that our pupils shape their own views and opinions of the modern political landscape and their place within it.

Politics is not a subject that is neatly contained within the pages of a textbook.

Bede’s pupils thrive because they are challenged to immerse themselves fully in the ever changing narrative of the day.

Pupils of politics are committed to exploring current events, ideas and debate through routine engagement with quality media, both print and digital.

 

Just as Politics is ever changing, the personal and world view of our pupils shifts, develops and evolves through their study of this living, breathing subject.

At the heart of our teaching is the desire to help pupils of politics to realise their potential – not only in exam scores – but also to become more politically aware and engaged with the world around them. This is why there is a constant emphasis in our teaching in encouraging the students to engage with current affairs.

The A Level syllabus focuses on the study of politics in the UK in order to provide students with a solid grounding in the UK system before examining US politics and requiring students to think beyond the UK political system as well as make comparisons between the two. 

We also offer a wide extension programme: whether it be joining the PPE Society or Question Time activity – we regularly hold UK / US elections, and visit the Houses of Parliament and Washington.  

The word History comes from Greek ἱστορία, historia, meaning "inquiry, knowledge of the past acquired by investigation".

By knowledge, we of course mean the understanding of our colourful story woven out of individual and collective experience; the vast tapestry of human interaction, sometimes engaging, shocking, enthralling, but never dull. Yet the concepts of inquiry and investigation are equally important; the ability to research, to infer, to analyse, the ability to evaluate the evidence in order to reach a substantiated judgement that can survive the most hostile of cross-examinations.

History is obviously about the past. But it is also an investment in the future; the future of those who study the subject, who will be equipped with the skills and attributes required to thrive in the modern world.

We have a responsibility to ensure that the past is not forgotten, that pupils see how our knowledge of the past can so clearly inform our understanding of the present.

With this in mind History at Bede’s, whether at First Year, GCSE or A Level, is designed to enable all pupils, regardless of ability, to enjoy and make progress in this most fascinating of subjects. We want to create life-long learners who will carry their interest and passion for history with them, whatever their own personal journey.

At GCSE, pupils study the events that have shaped our lives across the 20th Century, including Germany (1918-1945), The Vietnam Conflict and the Cold War (1943-1972), as well as China.

At A Level, pupils cover a range of diverse historical eras, from the 18th Century to mid and late 20th Century Britain, taking in significant events and figures including the American Revolution, Churchill and US Civil Rights.

Throughout their time at Bede’s pupils will have the opportunity to embed their learning through external trips to museums and places of historical relevance. In recent years, our First Years have visited the Imperial War Museum, including a guided tour of the Holocaust exhibition. For those pupils who opt to take History at GCSE and on to A Level we run regular residential trips including Berlin (pictured above), which supports our study of pre and post-war Germany, and Washington D.C. as part of a joint History and Politics trip focusing on US political system and the struggle for Civil Rights. 

Read our memories of VE Day 1945, collected in celebration of the 75th anniversary

Studying Religion and Philosophy at Bede’s helps prepare pupils for life in the real world.

At Bede’s, students are equipped with the tools to be able to talk intelligently about religion as well as developing an ability to humbly and persuasively engage in civil disagreement.

Society is diverse and multicultural, which means our pupils need to be skilled intercultural navigators as they engage with people with potentially very different religious backgrounds and world views.

 

At Bede’s, pupils will be inspired to delve deeper and think seriously about the world we live in and our place in it, and having this knowledge will serve pupils well for life after Bede’s.

The courses we run offer a rich blend of the study of religion, philosophy and ethics. Alongside this, the department offers a Philosopher’s Activity which runs termly, as well as an after-school Philosophy Society which is often student-led to help develop their confidence and leadership skills. These events are designed to go beyond the curriculum and have often served our students well by reinforcing the core skills being developed on our exam courses.

We hold our annual Ideas Forum event to draw in outside speakers to stimulate thinking and generate a debate on a topical issue. Our exam pupils are also given the opportunity to attend a conference in London to hear enriching talks from renowned university professors and lecturers.

At Sixth Form, we follow the OCR specification which is split into three parts; Philosophy and Religion, Religion and Ethics and Developments in Christian Thought. We explore many of the big questions which have been around as long as human civilisation such whether God exists and how he can exist in a world filled with such suffering. We examine the difference between right and wrong and whether there is life after death?

Our courses are well suited to those with an enquiring and curious mind and our aim is that the classroom should be like a brain gymnasium, where we work to sharpen thinking, develop key skills and equip our pupils to tackle challenges in later life.