WHY SHOULD STUDENTS CHOOSE history?

Understanding the past is the key to understanding the present. It helps us to keep track of current events as they unfold; appreciate different perspectives and interpretations; develop critical-thinking skills; develop the skills needed for gathering evidence; find patterns and trends; apply information from the past to analyse and solve problems in the present. History is an academic subject that is highly valued by colleges and universities.

The AQA GCSE course is a fascinating mix of topics that will take students on a journey through the centuries and will give them a deeper understanding of British and world history.

History as a GCSE is highly respected by further education establishments and the government is keen to encourage more people to take the subject as part of the English Baccalaureate.

The transferable skills involved can be applied to many jobs.  As well as developing their knowledge, students improve their analytical skills and practise presenting information in a clear and concise way.

WHAT WILL STUDENTS NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS COURSE?

Students should already be enjoying the current history curriculum and want to study further and deeper to know more about the last 1000 years of world history.

Students will benefit from being able to read, retain and recall large amounts of factual information about different periods of history. As it is a literacy-based subject, students will be expected to read both contemporary sources and historical interpretations, and then use their knowledge to write extended responses to questions. Students will also need to treat historical sources critically, thinking about the nature, origin, message, and purpose of the sources they come across.

These historical skills are increasingly valuable in the internet age. Young people need to be able to examine information critically and to form clear opinions based on wide-ranging research rather than accepting things at face value. These historical skills have been taught at KS3 and will continue to be developed at Key Stage 4.

Course DEscription

In Year 10 you will study:

• Britain: Migration, Empires, and the People: c790 to the present day. We will study Britain as a conquered nation and as an empire-builder.  The course will also consider the important question of immigration and what it means to be British today.

• Norman England 1066 to c.1100.  Students will study in-depth the arrival of the Normans and the establishment of their rule in England.

In Year 11 your studies will cover:

• The Cold War 1945 – 72 including the nuclear arms race, the Korean War, the division of Germany, and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

• Germany 1918 – 45.  This period study focuses on the development of Germany during a turbulent half-century of change. It was a period of democracy and dictatorship - the development and collapse of democracy and the rise and fall of Nazism.

Throughout both years of the course, you will also learn a wide variety of skills. This will include reading and analysing evidence critically, how to communicate your knowledge clearly and how to form arguments both verbally and in your extended writing.

FURTHER EDUCATION AND CAREER PATHWAYS

History is an outstanding option subject for students who are looking to do academic arts and humanities A-Levels, such as History, Law, Philosophy, Government and Politics, and English. It is also excellent preparation for professions related to legal work, journalism, TV research and broadcasting; the Civil Service, politics, town planning, building restoration, librarianship or archives and museum management; education or law enforcement.