Course Introduction

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.

History will also 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 helpful resources including textbooks, video resources and some internet sites. We do, however, also delve into original source material such as diaries, letters, pictures, posters to name but a few. With the expertise of our staff, as well as our enthralling academic library, you will be well supported to be as successful as you can be in both the examinations and coursework.

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.

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.

Facilities