History is a compulsory Year 9 subject, and a popular GCSE and A Level option. Students have many opportunities to develop their skills in and outside of the classroom, including weekly revision sessions run within the department. Each year there is a trip to Berlin, which is available for Year 11-13 students. Other trips have included GCSE visits to Hatfield House, Hardwick Hall and Kenilworth Castle, and A Level trips to the Imperial War Museum and the British Library.

Year 9

Units covered include Medieval history and Modern history, with a focus specifically on World War One and Two, and the Holocaust. Students develop their skills, building on those learnt previously, and building a passion and interest in the subject whilst preparing for the GCSE course.

GCSE

Our GCSE is a popular choice within the school, with students completing the AQA exam board GCSE, which is 100% exam. The topics covered are:

Paper 1:

• Conflict and Tension 1945-1972 (unit code for past papers: Paper 1 Section B/C). This covers the Cold War and the relationship between the USA and USSR.
• America: Inequality and Opportunity 1920-1973 (unit code for past papers: Paper 1 Section A/D). This unit covers changes for the American people in this time, separated into Boom, Bust and Post War Civil Rights.

Paper 2:

• Elizabethan England 1558-1603 (unit code for past papers: Paper 2 Section B/C). This course examines Elizabeth’s reign and the lives of the people. There is a study of a specific historical environment for this unit. For those sitting their GCSE in Summer 2027, the historical environment is the Spanish Armada. For those sitting their GCSE in Summer 2028, the historical environment is Kenilworth Castle.
• Power and the People c.1170 - Present Day (unit code for past papers: Paper 2 Section A/B). This course is a thematic study. Students study key events that led to British people having democracy in the modern day. Students are encouraged to develop their ability to compare and contrast events.

GCSE Revision and Extra Curricular Learning

Past Papers can be found on the AQA website – please use the codes listed above to find the correct papers: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/history/gcse/history-8145/assessment-resources

Revision Guides: There are many different revision guides available online which may be a useful resource. We recommend the Hodder Education Revision Guide as it covers all 4 topics in one book. Oxford Revision Guides are also recommended, but are purchased per unit.

BBC Bitesize is a recommended online free resource, with content and exam technique advice for Paper 1 and Elizabethan England.

Podcasts

• The Rest Is History: Hosted by historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, this podcast covers a wide range of topics with a mix of humour and in-depth analysis.
• Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History: Known for its long-form, cinematic, and intense look at major events, this is a highly popular, in-depth show.
• Empire - World History: Hosted by William Dalrymple and Anita Anand, this podcast explores the history of empires and their lasting impact.
• History Daily: Offers short, daily episodes focusing on events that happened on that day in history.

These are not tailored to GCSE but are general podcasts for developing passion and skills for history.

A Level

A Level follows the OCR exam board. There are 4 units completed over the 2 years. We do not offer AS Level History.

Units covered in Year 12 include:

• Germany: Democracy and Dictatorships 1919-63 (15% of final grade)
• Britain 1930-1997 (25% of final grade)

Units covered in Year 13 include:

• Rebellion and Disorder under the Tudors 1485-1603 (40% of final grade)
• Coursework – a 4000-word essay which students research and write themselves during lessons (20% of final grade)