History

The value of History has long been recognised. It is a fascinating subject, rich in both incident and opportunities to analyse human behaviour – a subject sufficiently important to have been banned or completely rewritten by governments fearful of their subjects and of democracy.

Course structure

The course covers 20th century history up to the present day and approaches it in two different ways.

Firstly, students examine developments in international relations from the end of the First World War to the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe, 1919 – 1989.

Then, students look at studies in depth which focus upon the political, social, economic and cultural developments in a single society. These studies help students to explore key questions to promote their understanding of the subject, such as ‘why did the tsarist regime in Russia collapse in 1917?’ and, ‘who was to blame for the Cold War?’.

The course also includes an element of British history in the British Depth Study which looks at social change in Britain between 1906 and 1918. This part of the course explores topics such as how civilians were affected by the war, how effective was government propaganda during the war and why some women were given the vote in 1918.

Assessment details

There are three components to be assessed: two examination papers and one coursework unit (which consists of two assignments). Coursework provides an opportunity to study important moments in modern history, such as the struggle against apartheid in South Africa.

After the GCSE course

This History course will help students to develop a knowledge and understanding of past events and periods, and to explore the key features and characteristics of those periods. It will also help students develop a variety of skills, such as interpretation, analysis, evaluation and communication of information, which will be useful in a wide range of jobs or in a further study of the subject.