History

We ensure this through a broad and ambitious History curriculum, rich in skills and knowledge, which immerses students in a range of cultures and engenders an enquiring and critical outlook on the world that can also be applied in other subjects and in their future endeavours. These skills are honed and developed progressively through the curriculum to create historians confident in communicating their views, both in writing and orally.  Each topic is framed around a challenging historical question which is linked to a key historical concept. Lessons mirror this, with key questions forming the basis for each lesson enquiry. This will ensure students access and apply high level vocabulary with increasing rigour over their time in history classrooms.

Course Details

A Level History – Edexcel
Specification – https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/history-2015.html

Course Description

The subjects chosen have been designed to give a breadth of knowledge across a range of periods, to develop the necessary skills and understanding which will be needed by students planning to progress to undergraduate study at a UK higher education establishment, particularly (although not only) in the same subject area.

Programme of Study

Year 12

• Paper 1:Britain transformed 1918-1997
• Paper 2:The conformity and challenge in the USA 1955-92

Year 13

• Paper 3:Poverty, public health and the state in Britain c1780-1939
• Coursework: Historical interpretations of a controversy

Assessment

All three papers will be sat at the end of the two-year course. In addition to class assessment there will be one threshold exam at the end of Year 12, and mock exams in the January of Year 13. In class assessment will occur throughout the year. Coursework will be completed in Year 13 prior to exams.

Route H: Democracies in change: Britain and the USA in the twentieth century

Paper 1 – Britain transformed 1918-1997.

• 60 marks
• 2 hours 15 minutes
• 30% of overall A Level
• Students answer 3 questions: 1 from section A, 1 from section B and 1 from section C

Paper 2 – The conformity and challenge in the USA 1955-92

• 40 marks
• 1 hour 30 minutes
• 20% of overall A Level
• Students answer 2 questions: 1 from section A and 1 from section B

Paper 3 – Poverty, public health and the state in Britain c1780-1939

• 60 marks
• 2 hours 15 minutes
• 30% of overall A Level
• Students answer 3 questions: 1 from section A, 1 from section B, 1 from section C

Coursework – Historical interpretations of a controversy (student choice)

• 40 marks
• 3000-4000 words
• 20% of overall A Level
• Controlled assessment
• Students complete a single assignment on a question set by the centre

Home Learning

Home learning will take the form of preparation or review of work in class. This consists largely of reading or tasks given by the teacher.

Reading around the subject is essential for greater understanding, the textbook is a starting point, but students are expected to use the reading list to further their understanding.

Where can History take you

The skills acquired through the study of History, at any level, are invaluable for an array of career paths. Those listed below show just a few which have a direct and indirect relation to the subject.

Further Study

Degrees in:

• History
• Art History
• Ancient History
• Military History
• European History
• American History
• Politics
• International Relations
• Gender Studies
• Sociology

Careers

Careers related directly to History:

• Heritage manager
• Historic buildings inspector or conservation officer
• Museum education officer
• Museum or gallery curator
• Museum or gallery exhibitions officer
• Teaching

Careers where the qualification would be useful:

• Editorial assistant
• Information officer
• Politician’s assistant
• Law
• Management consultancies
• Publishing companies
• Television and radio broadcasters.

How can parents support their child’s learning

Parents can discuss with the students how they plan to manage their time for the home learning tasks and revision for assessments.

We strongly encourage students to gain background research from books rather than the internet as it is often age-inappropriate for students and the school’s Discovery Centre, local libraries and books at home would all be helpful to students deepening their knowledge and understanding of the topics studied.

Visiting historical sites and encouraging discussion about the topics studied in class is also useful.

Useful Links

• TV Timeline – tv
• BBC education – BBC Education
• School History – co.uk
• History on the net – History On The Net
• History revision – JohnDClare History Revision
• Spartacus Education – Spartacus Educational

For more information contact Mrs H. Smith, Head of Humanities, Townsend Church of England School.