KS4 History

Our Curriculum

Students follow the Edexcel syllabus.

The aims and objectives of this qualification are to enable students to:

• Develop and extend their knowledge and understanding of specified key events, periods and societies in local, British, and wider world history; and of the wide diversity of human experience
• Engage in historical enquiry to develop as independent students and as critical and reflective thinkers
  Develop the ability to ask relevant questions about the past, to investigate issues critically and to make valid historical claims by using a range of sources in their historical context
• Develop an awareness of why people, events and developments have been accorded historical significance and how and why different interpretations have been constructed about them
• Organise and communicate their historical knowledge and understanding in different ways and reach substantiated conclusions

Students will be able to build on skills already taught at Key Stage 3 that allow them to critically evaluate interpretations of the past, assess sources and show detailed knowledge and understanding. This is enabled through the study of the following topics: Crime and Punishment in Britain C1000-present day and Whitechapel C1870-1900; crime, policing and the inner city; Anglo Saxon and Norman England C1066-88; British America 1713-83; Weimar and Nazi Germany 1918-39

Skills and Progression Routes

On completion of the course, students will have developed a number of skills including

• Forming opinions and understanding the opinions of others
• Debating issues and current affairs
• Analysing source
• Discussing key issues relevant to the world of today
• Undertaking independent research
• Forming arguments

By studying History at GCSE level you can go further at A level and then to degree level. History opens a variety of doors due to the complex nature of the skills you develop which are welcomed in a large number of professions and careers, for example:

• Law
• Journalism
• Police
• Media
• Publishing
• Teaching
• Civil Service
• Accountancy
• Politics

Additional Information

The new specification does not have any coursework and therefore there are 3 written exams to be taken at the end of Year 11. At the time of study students will have access to the relevant text books although this will only be accessible during lesson time. Should students wish to purchase text books and revision guides to use at home then these can be ordered at the start to the course.

History GCE | AQA

History A Level is a 2 year course that enables students to study British and non-British history across a wide chronological range thereby enhancing their understanding of key historical concepts. Alongside the content to be delivered, the History A Level also enables students to produce independent research that will provide an important and necessary springboard for University education.

Component 1 – The Tudors, England 1485-1603: This unit will begin at the start to the Tudor dynasty with the reign of Henry VII, moving on to Henry VIII. Themes will be explored in detail relating to the changes in religion, foreign policy, domestic disputes and the security of the realm. Within Year 13 students will continue chronologically by examining the historical interpretations of the idea of a ‘Mid-Tudor crisis’, encapsulating the relative mistakes and possible successes to the reigns of Edward VI and Mary I. Finally students will examine in depth the reign of Elizabeth I, ultimately evaluating whether the years 1558-1603 truly were ‘Glorious’.

Component 2 – Democracy and Nazism; Germany 1918 – 1945: Unit 2 looks at a smaller period time and therefore is more in depth. Students will look at the impact that WW1 had on Germany and the resultant government that ensued following the abdication of the Kaiser. The newly established Weimar government will be evaluated in terms of its merits and failures and then discussions will be had on the idea that it was the inherent weaknesses to the democratic experiment that paved the way for Nazism. Within Year 13 students will investigate in detail the Nazi reign, building on content already covered at GCSE level.
Component 3: Historical Investigation. This part of the course enables students to develop their independent investigation techniques – a valuable tool for post 16 study. Students will be provided with a number of topics to research and they will then produce an argumentative and evaluative piece of work that shows a critique of differing academic views on the chosen topic.

Assessment

Component 1: Written examination (40%)
Component 2: Written examination (40%)
Component 3: Coursework (20%)

Progression Routes

The study of History as an academic discipline provides a wealth of tools and skills that will be of great benefit both for further academic study in any subject as well as to future employers. Through the study of history students become adept at critical thinking, research, evaluative thought and writing, debate and complex thought. It is these tools, rather than the content that they will be studying that ensure History is regarded as a valuable and desirable A Level qualification to have.

Potential areas of employment that welcome history students include:

• Law
• Police
• Government / politics
• Journalism / publishing
• Social Sciences
• Education and Training
• Business, Administration
• Health, Public Services and Care
• Arts, Media and Publishing

Additional Information

Students will be provided with one core text book for both units 1 and 2. However, students are encouraged to purchase / borrow supplementary texts that will broaden their knowledge and understanding.

Students will require 5 GCSEs at grade C or equivalent, to include History and English. However, students who have achieved GCSE grade B in History will be better prepared to meet the course demands