A level History

At Cowes, we study the AQA A-Level history specification. Following recent reforms to the A-Level curriculum, we offer two taught units:

• The Tudors: England 1485-1603 (a breadth study)

• The Cold War, c1946-1991

Entry requirements: GCSE grade 5 across subjects including English and Maths. GCSE grade 6 in history, strong written communication skills, an enquiring and analytical mind and a desire to explore the past to understand the significance of historical events

​​​​​​​Specification:  https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/history/as-and-a-level/history-7041-7042

AQA Cold War reading/resource list below:

https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/history/AQA-70412R-70422R-RL.PDF 

Please purchase the core textbook we will use in school:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oxford-AQA-History-Level-c1945-1991/dp/0198354614/ref=sr_1_1?crid=WZWSTJIK6UAL&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.UxBE_jkoblFEmq5xU71o9-b1y_EoY1hNIcrPgGHohR1cdgoAKA0oV4Hffi57LDNIaw94qlyp6yiFqI33StEOihOsDLwaUVmR5pO-tzNli04.bif68wgvF7OMm6kaimmm_qTTBUKWgWhp4clZ_z-xya0&dib_tag=se&keywords=cold+war+aqa&qid=1721300215&sprefix=cold+war+aqa+%2Caps%2C65&sr=8-1

AQA Cold War reading/resource list below:

https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/history/AQA-70412R-70422R-RL.PDF

Please purchase the core textbook we will use in school:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oxford-AQA-History-Level-c1945-1991/dp/0198354614/ref=sr_1_1?crid=WZWSTJIK6UAL&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.UxBE_jkoblFEmq5xU71o9-b1y_EoY1hNIcrPgGHohR1cdgoAKA0oV4Hffi57LDNIaw94qlyp6yiFqI33StEOihOsDLwaUVmR5pO-tzNli04.bif68wgvF7OMm6kaimmm_qTTBUKWgWhp4clZ_z-xya0&dib_tag=se&keywords=cold+war+aqa&qid=1721300215&sprefix=cold+war+aqa+%2Caps%2C65&sr=8-1

See if you can shop around and purchase the textbook second hand.

YouTube Cold War series – this matches the A-Level specification

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ald0Z8beyK4&list=PLygA1_PUbd9dbrhm9h7a_ZCMna4j7GsZC

Below are additional resources and transition tasks to help prepare you for A Level History at Cowes Sixth Form.

Summer tasks:

1. Watch 5 YouTube clips about the origins of the Cold War:

Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ald0Z8beyK4&list=PLygA1_PUbd9dbrhm9h7a_ZCMna4j7GsZC

The Cold War: Ideological Differences - Capitalism vs Communism - Episode 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMYcLVDAeD4&list=PLygA1_PUbd9dbrhm9h7a_ZCMna4j7GsZC&index=2

The Cold War: The Yalta Conference - Episode 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGCGdpu_FTU&list=PLygA1_PUbd9dbrhm9h7a_ZCMna4j7GsZC&index=3

The Cold War: The Potsdam Conference 1945 - Truman, Attlee and Stalin - Episode 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu17c_3OTHw&list=PLygA1_PUbd9dbrhm9h7a_ZCMna4j7GsZC&index=4

The Cold War - Stalin's Actions in Eastern Europe 1945-1948 - Episode 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYWOwRywalA&list=PLygA1_PUbd9dbrhm9h7a_ZCMna4j7GsZC&index=5

2. Read the article from History.com about the Cold War https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/cold-war-history

3. Read the article about the origins of the Cold War https://www.ncpedia.org/anchor/origins-cold-war

4. Write a definition of the below terms

· Proxy War

· Ideology

· Sphere of influence

· Bloc

· Imperialism

· Unilateral

· Capitalism

· Communism

· Guerilla

· War of attrition

· Detente

· Security Council

5. Research a short biography for the below key people:

Include: name, their background/role in the Cold War

· Joseph Stalin

· Franklin Roosevelt

· Winston Churchill

· Vyacheslav Molotov

· Anthony Eden

· Harry Truman

· Clement Atlee

6. Create a timeline of key events for the Cold War 1945-1991

AQA Tudor reading/resource list below Resource list: Component 1C The Tudors: England, 1485-1603 (aqa.org.uk)

Please purchase the core textbook we will use in school:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oxford-AQA-History-Level-1485-1603/dp/0198354606/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3CYB9XPQJ4LIG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GunNCl6J_ErNxvkhdGFFBf3Lbkj5aeB0ekEmDO9JJLO0BAg82UXSfkLCsVBGlgnFaiwOFf8OC4k0szNH81GTc0U0qSHyPR2cvQFl3ioXrkc.9V8IdGQ22F7bs4yQhTD6iPzHrlhIcJ-2sLmGksf7E2o&dib_tag=se&keywords=tudors+a+level+aqa&qid=1721300724&s=books&sprefix=tudors+a+level+aqa%2Cstripbooks%2C73&sr=1-1

You may also like to purchase a second Tudor textbook:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AQA-level-History-England-1485-1603/dp/1471837580/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3CYB9XPQJ4LIG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GunNCl6J_ErNxvkhdGFFBf3Lbkj5aeB0ekEmDO9JJLO0BAg82UXSfkLCsVBGlgnFaiwOFf8OC4k0szNH81GTc0U0qSHyPR2cvQFl3ioXrkc.9V8IdGQ22F7bs4yQhTD6iPzHrlhIcJ-2sLmGksf7E2o&dib_tag=se&keywords=tudors+a+level+aqa&qid=1721300724&s=books&sprefix=tudors+a+level+aqa%2Cstripbooks%2C73&sr=1-5

See if you can shop around and purchase the textbook second hand.

YouTube the Tudors series – this matches the A-Level specification https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbsT2ahkrA8&list=PLygA1_PUbd9czzipEIcJhFFhKMAA4qU_N

Below are additional resources and transition tasks to help prepare you for A Level History at Cowes Sixth Form.

Summer tasks:

1. Watch the first five videos from the Tudor YouTube series. The first is an overview and the next four are about the first Tudor monarch Henry VII https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbsT2ahkrA8&list=PLygA1_PUbd9czzipEIcJhFFhKMAA4qU_N

2. Read information from Historic England about the Tudors The Tudors and Tudor England in the 16th century (historic-uk.com)

3. Read information from Tudors.org to build up contextual knowledge about the Tudors TudorHistory.org

4. Write a definition of the below terms:

· Parliamentary sanction

· Act of Attainder

· Tonnage and poundage

· Mercenaries

· Courtier

· Household government

· Elites

· Magnates

· Duchy

· Prerogative rights

· Bureaucrat

· Chamber

· Lord Chamberlain

· Privy chamber

· Chivalrous

· Extraordinary revenue

· Fifteenths and tenths

· Bond

· Recognizance

· Wardship

· Feudal aid

· Statue of uses

5. Write a short biography for each Tudor monarch - 1485-1603

Include: name, their family, key moments in their reign, challenges they faced

6. Create a timeline of key events from 1485-1603