THE IMPORTANCE OF HISTORY

“History fires pupils’ curiosity and imagination, moving and inspiring them with the dilemmas, choices and beliefs of people in the past. It helps pupils develop their own identities through an understanding of history at personal, local, national and international levels. It helps them to ask and answer questions of the present by engaging with the past.
History prepares pupils for the future, equipping them with knowledge and skills that are prized in adult life. It encourages mutual understanding and helps pupils become confident and questioning individuals”.

The National Curriculum for England.
DFES /QCA

Key Stage 3: Year 7, 8 and 9
Pupils study a range of interesting historical topics gaining knowledge and understanding of significant events, changes and developments in British, European and World History. These include: the Norman Conquest, the English Civil War, the Impact of Empire, the Slave Trade and World War 1. Pupils learn to communicate their ideas clearly and to question and evaluate evidence.

GCSE Year 10 and 11.
Exam Board: AQA, Modern World History Syllabus B 4045

At GCSE, we look at some of the most dramatic and momentous events of the 20th century: the Russian Revolution, the rise of the Nazis in Germany, and significant conflicts of the Cold War. Students develop a wide range of skills: the ability to assess evidence; to evaluate arguments; to express their own ideas clearly. These are skills which are not only valuable in themselves but relevant to many different careers and courses.

We study 4 main areas:
• The First and Second World Wars –how they affected the way of life in Britain.
• Depth Study 1: Russia 1914 – 41
• Depth Study 2: Germany 1919 – 39
• International History 1919 –70

These are assessed through two examinations and two pieces of controlled assessment ( which replaces coursework). One of the GCSE exams is in the summer term of Year 10, the other in the same term in Year 11.

Key Stage 5 – Year 12 and 13
OCR History A GCE

The content of the A level course will be new to many students but the course is designed to build on and develop those essay writing and document analysis skills learnt at GCSE.

AS consists of: A British Period study: Henry VIII and Mary I (1509-1558), AND A European / World Enquiry: Dictatorship and Democracy in Germany 1933-1963, or Origins of the American Civil War 1820-61.

A2 consists of: Coursework: (40% of A2) An interpretations assignment on Elizabeth I and an investigation and Examination: Historical Themes. ( 60% of A2) Either: Russian Dictatorship 1855-1964. Civil Rights in the USA 1865-1992.

Enrichment

Medieval Re-enactment. In Year 7 all pupils get to work with a specialist medieval re-enactment team who come in to school.

GCSE : Trip to Auschwitz, staying in the beautiful medieval town of Krakow. This runs in the Easter holiday and is available to all History GCSE students.