History
A Level
Exam Board: Pearson Edexcel
Subject Leader: Mr D Bowker
During the course students will learn about the significance of events and societies in History, how and why societies have changed over time, the theories of historians and the language that they use, to discuss their ideas. Students will understand the nature of historical evidence and the methods used by historians to analyse and evaluate it and to develop an understanding of how the past has been interpreted and represented. Students will also develop the capacity to express your own historical ideas confidently and effectively.
How is the course organised and assessed?
History lessons are organised more like university seminars, with an emphasis on group discussion. Students present to the class as individuals or as part of a small group. Classes will try exercises to get into the minds of historical figures to truly understand why they acted the way they did. Students will look at a wide range of sources, from official papers to diaries, photographs, and video. Debate and discussion of ideas is at the heart of this course.
In Year 12, students tackle two units: Britain Transformed, which details Britain in the 20th century (1918 - 1997), and The USA, 1955-1992, Conformity and Challenge. These two units culminate in an exam where students will be marked on their subject knowledge and their ability to demonstrate their understanding of the period in depth.
In Year 13, students take on two more units, the first, The British Experience of Warfare 1790-1918, which is marked by exam, and the final unit is an independently researched coursework project where students will analyse and evaluate historical interpretations and to organise and communicate their findings.