Lollipops and talking heads

It is often remarked that history is under pressure nationally at GCSE. Our history numbers have never been enormous, and we have recently gone down from 2 sets to one set. The crunch came in 2007 when we collapsed to a dismal 12 students. A variety of factors may have contributed to this depressing situation:

• a number of new courses were introduced at Key Stage 4 and were very well publicised to students;
• many students dislike extended writing and perceive history as essay based;
• many pupils and parents take a utilitarian view and prefer subjects that are explicitly linked to careers;
• history is often perceived as being harder....