Key Stage 4

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Year 10 and 11 students follow G.C.S.E courses

Why should I study G.C.S.E.?

History at GCSE offers an exciting opportunity to analyse, identify and evaluate a range of sources. History develops your communication skills and studying the subject will show you how to research. History is also useful as it provides you with the tools necessary to compile an argument, and support it with evidence. Opting for history at GCSE can contribute to the subjects required to gain the English Baccalaureate. Taking history means that you will be able to get involved with various learning activities, such as role playing, debating, hot seating, watching movies, quizzes and developing those all important essay writing skills.

GCSE from 2020 (Current Year 9 will study this)

Students will study Edexcel GCSE History. The Thematic and Historic environment paper gives you an overview of changes in medicine across time, and factors that affected it. The Historic environment allows you to focus on a singular area and work out why it provided such an opportunity for transformation. The Period Study enables students to look at events in the wider world. Whilst in the British depth study students are introduced to the origins of our current political and religious systems, as well as gaining an insight in to the way people lived in the past. The final unit, the Modern Depth study, allows students to explore in detail social and political change over a shorter time.

Paper	Section	Topic	Assessment	%
1. Thematic study and Historic Environment	A. Thematic study	Medicine in Britain 1250-present	1 hour and 15 minutes exam	30
1. Thematic study and Historic Environment	B. Historic Environment	The British sector of the Western Front 1914-18; injuries, treatment and the trenches	1 hour and 15 minutes exam	30
2. Period study and British depth study	A. Period Study	British America, 1713-83: empires and revolution	1 hour and 45 minutes exam	40
2. Period study and British depth study	B. British depth study	Early Elizabethan England, 1558-88	1 hour and 45 minutes exam	40
3. Modern Depth study	A. Modern Depth Study	Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918-39	1 hour and 20 minutes exam	30

Medicine in Britain: This unit includes medieval to present day medical developments in beliefs about the cures of diseases; improvements in anatomical knowledge; factors that caused change; an exploration of surgery and the growth of public health.

British sector of the Western front: In this section we look at medical experiments on the Western front, conditions soldiers faced, as well the organisation of supporting medical forces.

British America: In this unit students look at piracy, the slave trade, revolts in the colonies, cultural developments, the war of independence and the consequences of it.

Elizabethan England: Students will explore life in Elizabethan times; her Court and Parliament, the explorers, education and leisure, enemies abroad and at home.

Weimar and Nazi Germany: Students explore the rise and fall of the Weimar Republic; the creation of a dictatorship under Hitler; what it was like to live in Nazi Germany.

Current Year 10 and 11 History (9-1)

Students follow the AQA specification. They sit two examinations, which contain two topics each. Paper one focuses on engaging students in understanding history in the modern world. Section A of the paper, the period study on Germany, will allow students to explore in greater detail political and social change over a period and the consequences of it. Whilst the wider world depth study gets students to think about the complex situations of other countries. In paper two, the thematic study of Medicine gives a great overview and insight into the changing world and factors that affected its course and progress right up to the present day. Finally, the British section, including a historic environment allows students to study the relationship between a place and historical events and developments.

Germany, 1890-45: Democracy and Dictatorship: Students will look at the rule and abdication of the Kaiser, the rise and fall of the Weimar Republic, as well as the creation of a dictatorship under Hitler and about what it was like to live in Nazi Germany
Conflict and tension in Asia 1950-75: Students will look at the origins of Korean and Vietnam war. How they progressed and how the war impacted on the USA.
Health and the People: This unit includes medieval to present day medical developments in
beliefs about the cures of diseases, improvements in anatomical knowledge, factors that caused change as well as an exploration of surgery and the growth of public health.
Elizabethan England: Students will explore life in Elizabethan times, her Court and Parliament, as well as enemies abroad and at home. Students will also study a site from the period and evaluate its significance.

Assessment:

Paper 1: Modern World - A two hour exam, made up of 10 questions (5 on Germany, 5 on Conflict in Asia) worth 50%

Paper 2: Shaping the Nation - A two hour exam, made up of 8 questions (4 on Health, 4 on Elizabethan England) worth 50%