History
Examination Board: Edexcel
Course Title: GCSE History
Why should I choose to study History?
Students who study history are fearless explorers of the past. You will have the chance to investigate a variety of key events and periods in history. You will learn about many different aspects of history including military, social, political, ideological and economical. You will find out about moments which changed the course of history and about individuals who made their mark on historical periods. Students look at how things have developed over time and connect the dots to understand how we got where we are today. In history we study lots of different sources in order to piece together the events which are often the result of complex and multiple factors. Whilst going through this process you will be challenged to develop a variety of higher order skills which will enhance your ability to understand and evaluate the topics studied.
What will I learn?
Medicine and Health in Britain c1250-present day – Medicine in medieval England and the Renaissance, medicine in C18th and C19th Britain, medicine in modern Britain, the British sector of the western front medical treatment, injuries and trenches; Early Elizabethan England – Queen, government and religion, challenges to Elizabeth’s rule, the Age of Exploration; Weimar and Nazi Germany 1918-1939; The Weimar Republic, Hitler’s rise to power, Nazi control and dictatorship, life in Nazi Germany; Superpower Relations and the Cold War 1941-1991 – the origins of the Cold War, the Cold War crises, Détente and the end of the Cold War.
What will be expected of me?
You will be expected to actively participate in paired, group and whole class activities. You will need to learn a range of historical key concepts, issues and themes alongside specialist vocabulary, key names, events and dates. You will be expected to think critically about historical sources and put together developed arguments related to their reliability and usefulness. You will be expected to analyse and evaluate the importance of different historical events and periods. You will be expected to have a passion for history and work to the best of your ability at all times.
What skills will I develop?
History teaches us to answer very important questions: why things happen, how things happen and the impact of what happens. This is key to sharpening your critical thinking abilities, which combine the following skills: analysis, evaluation, extended writing, communication, problem solving, and argumentation.
How will I be assessed?
Paper 1: Thematic study: Medicine in Britain c1250-present day (30% of the GCSE)
Paper 2: Period and depth study: The Cold War and Elizabethan England (40% of the GCSE)
Paper 3: Modern depth study: Weimar and Nazi Germany (30% of the GCSE);
Where will this qualification lead me?
Students with a GCSE in history will be able to undertake further study at A-Level and continue into University or employment. You will be primed for a huge range of careers in history and beyond. Areas you could go into include: law, politics, public sector, business, marketing, journalism, economics, teaching, social research, archaeology and museum work.
