What will I be learning? 

The course is made up of three main units: 

• Tsarist and Communist Russia, 1855-1964: This component is part of the breadth paper where students study the attempts (and failure) of the last three Tsars of Russia to avoid revolution. Followed by the emergence of the communist dictatorship
• Religious Conflict and the Church in England, c1529–1570: This component is a depth study into the Reformation in England and the attempts of Henry VIII and his children to put their own stamp on the Church
• The historical enquiry unit. The historical enquiry is a coursework-based module where students are free to choose any historical topic covering 100 years. They then write an essay based on change and continuity during this time

How will I be assessed?

Students will complete two exams, one each for component 1 and 2. These are each worth 40% of their grade. The historical enquiry is a non-examined assessment, which comes to 20% of their final grade.  

Independent study opportunities

Students will have access to a number of additional reading lists, both fiction and non-fiction, as well as recommended documentaries to complete during their independent study time.

What resources do I need? 

Students will be required to bring standard equipment, such as their folder and stationery, to lessons. They will also need to access books for their historical enquiry. The department has access to a range of resources for this, but depending on what topic they chose, they may also need to source their own additional reading.

Will I go on any trips?

Each year, we aim to take part in the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Lessons from Auschwitz trip. This involves two or more Sixth Form students going on a one-day visit to the Nazi Death Camp, Auschwitz.  The students attend various workshops and spend time educating younger students about their experiences when they get back.

What careers could this lead on to?

History is an academic subject that is extremely well respected by universities for any course – any arts subject, as well as medicine & science. It can provide a stepping stone to further study of history as well as progression in the fields of:

• Politics
• Law
• Journalism
• Media and broadcasting
• Research and curating

What grades do I need for this course?

An Average Point Score of a 4 is needed. Studying GCSE History would be an advantage, although not a set requirement. We recommend that students are consistently achieving at least a grade 5 in History and/or English GCSE.