History is a very popular A-Level and is a highly respected qualification for Higher Education courses and employment. The units we study will give you an insight into politics, societies, religion and economics through studying exciting, revolutionary and influential events across contrasting periods and locations. The course requires you to investigate and make comparisons which, in turn, will help you understand, engage with and respond to events in the world around us today.

In addition history will help you develop many important skills such as using evidence, analysing the strengths and weaknesses of arguments and making supported judgements. These skills are important in law, accounting, business and management generally where decisions have to be investigated, weighed up and justified.

History works well with a wide range of subject areas including social sciences, business, humanities and English. It is also useful if you are thinking of studying medicine or sciences at university: such students have been some of our most successful candidates. It is, of course, a great A-Level for progression into a variety of university courses (for example History, English, Law and Economics) but is by no means restricted to these courses. Indeed, universities and employers greatly respect students taking History as its analytical and writing skills are invaluable in any field.

Course Content and Methodology

We focus on political and social revolution to build a picture of crucial developments in early modern and modern world history. Topic areas are:

• Stuart Britain and the Crisis of Monarchy, 1603–1702;
• France in Revolution, 1774–1815;
• German foreign policy (expansionism and aggression), 1848-1945.

The department uses a wide variety of resources alongside respected text books including video resources and some internet sites as well as diaries, letters, pictures, posters and other contemporary sources. In addition the department has a growing library of books and a large number of academic articles are available particularly to assist you with your coursework.

Assessment

Exam Board: AQA. Course code: 7042DH

Assessment is by examination (80%) and coursework (20%). Exam questions include essays using concepts such as significance, causation and change and continuity; other questions focus on historians' interpretations and contemporary sources. In general you are required to analyse and evaluate evidence and make supported judgements.

Exam 1:

Stuart Britain and the Crisis of Monarchy, 1603–1702 -2h 30 minutes. 40% marks.

Exam 2:

France in Revolution, 1774–1815 -2h 30 minutes. 40% marks.

Coursework:

German foreign policy, 1848-1945. 20% marks.

Course Requirements

There are no specific requirements in terms of GCSE qualifications but the course does require extensive reading and extended writing both for notes and essays. Dedicated and determined students have successfully taken History without having studied it at GCSE.

Facilities