History

Exam Board: AQA

This course covers both British and international history and builds on the knowledge developed at KS3. Alongside the knowledge-based learning a variety of wider skills are developed such as critical thinking, debate and analysing source utility.

Assessment

There are four hour long exam papers for this unit covering a range of history from Great Britain and around the world.

Paper 1 covers Britain: Health and the People and The Norman Conquest, 1065-1100

• Thematic study: Britain: Health and the People, c.1000 to present Through this unit students will gain an understanding of how medicine and public health developed in Britain over a long period of time. Students will study the importance of factors such as war, superstition and religion and communication in developing medicine alongside looking at individuals such as Hippocrates, Pasteur and Gillies.
   
• British depth study: The Norman Conquest, 1065–1100 Through this option students will be able to study in depth the arrival of the Normans and the establishment of their rule. Students will look at Norman rule from economic, religious, political, social and cultural standpoints. Students will consider certain historical controversies such as Did Harold make a solemn oath to William? Who should have been the king after Edward’s death and did William win the Battle of Hastings because of luck?

Paper 2 covers Conflict and tension between the East and West, 1945–1972 and Germany 1890–1945.

• Wider world depth study: Conflict and tension between the East and West, 1945-72 This period study enables you to understand the complex and diverse interests of different states and individuals and the ideologies they represented. It considers revolutionary movements during this time such as the Hungary Uprising and moments of particular tensions such as the Arms race and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
   
• Period study: Germany, 1890–1945 This unit focuses on a turbulent time in Germany history where the country saw great change. It was a period of democracy and dictatorship – the development and collapse of democracy and the rise and fall of Nazism.

Where can it lead?

The study of GCSE is a highly respected course. It helps you develop key skills such as research, critical thinking and communication, both written and verbal. History can help you learn about different people, how they interact, the motives and emotions that can lead people to come together but also tear them apart. It can help you learn about different countries, societies and cultures. It can help you learn to locate and sift through sources in an analytical manner, alongside this, learning skills to help you present your work to others. It helps you to make sense of the world and people around you.

The study of GCSE History is desirable if you wish to progress to A Level History and beyond. History, due to the diverse set of skills involved in its study, can also lead into a wide variety of jobs including journalism, the police service, the legal profession (barrister or solicitor), accountancy, business management, financial services, creative industries such as marketing, public relations, the teaching profession, genealogy, archaeology, museum curating, heritage tourism, heritage management. Due to the nature of the GCSE in History these skills form an important part of the course, making a GCSE in History an advantage in many fields.

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