Manx History

People are interested in the world around them, and need to understand how it came about. Local History helps engagement, offers challenge and gives an opportunity to engage with wider world events from a human perspective. We consider it vital that Manx children and those that settle on the island know about and appreciate the History of their island. To this end there is a strong emphasis on the study of Manx history and the department has produced its own materials. All year groups study a significant component of Manx History and we strive to exploit local links wherever possible. Each lesson is 1 hour 15 minutes long. At KS3 30% of the History course is Manx based (40-43 hours). At KS4 it is obviously limited by Exam courses and comprises around 15%.

Year 7 – Neolithic Mann – How did the Neolithic Revolution change the Isle of Man?

Year 7 visit the Manx Museum for a workshop on Neolithic evidence

Year 7 – Medieval Realms – Manx Castles & Godred Crovan

Year 8 – Rushen Abbey and the Dissolution of the Monasteries
- Illiam Dhone & the Isle of Man in the English Civil War
Year 8 visit Rushen Abbey as part of their study on Medieval Religion

Year 9 – Was the Isle of Man central to the Slave trade?
The impact of World War 1 on the Isle of Man – a virtual War Memorial

The Island’s role in World War 2 – Enigma, Internment and training.
A Manx Pilot – source investigation on Sid Shimmin, Spitfire Pilot.

The Role of the Manx in World War 2 – Visits from the Normandy Veterans association
Tell Me Project – each student takes part in interviewing / project
Year 9 go on an Teacher led walk around the sites of Internment in Douglas

GCSE
– History of Medicine
Nellie Brennan and the 1832 Cholera Outbreak (part of GCSE study on the History of Medicine)
Public Health on the IOM – Summerhill, the Prom, Homes for Heroes (Manx examples given regularly in course)

Why was Douglas a thriving resort? Victorian Douglas Coursework (15 lessons)
Year 10 visit the Manx Museum and take a teacher-led walk around the sites of Victorian Douglas.

Year 11 The Work of the Historian Module – this is based on historical investigations across time.
- The Isle of Man in 1794
- Why do we remember King Orry?
- A World War Two Site – Douglas Borough Cemetery

Year 12

As part of their studies on the Crimean, Boer and First World War students visit the Nunnery to see the Crimean Cannon, and study the experiences of Manx soldiers in each conflict where ever possible.