The study of history is thriving here. The department has its own suite of rooms at the heart of the school right next to the library with which it has very strong links. The most obvious manifestation of the department's work is the Living History Group, which has a national reputation for historical re-enactment and has a superb collection of equipment and artefacts. There is also the History Society, which organises attendance at lectures and use of the archive at the University of Birmingham near the school, as well as showing films with historical themes.

Topics studied by the boys in the first three years are drawn from the 11th to the 20th centuries, including the Norman Conquest, the Wars of the Roses, the English Civil Wars and the First World War. The GCSE course covers the modern world with the Cold War and modern China at its heart. The A Level course centres on the themes of revolution and war and encompasses the First Crusade 1070 to 1130, Great Power relations 1856 to 1914, the changing nature of warfare 1789 to 1945 and Nazi Germany 1933 to 1945.

Field trips are run to Goodrich castle, Bosworth battlefield site and the RAF Cosford Cold War exhibition. The Living History group is active throughout the UK and has visited Denmark, and the department is organising a visit to Istanbul.