History

Exam Board: Edexcel

Entry Requirements: Grade 6 in History and/or English

What will you learn?

A level History is ideal preparation for many of the courses available at university and future career paths. You will learn how to evaluate sources and interpretations as well as creating your own historical interpretations of the past. You will develop your critical and independent thinking skills which are hugely relevant to today’s world.

We look at revolutions through time. What causes people to revolt? How much change do they actually achieve? You will study revolutions in Britain as well as revolutions from an additional country. Do all revolutions happen for the same reason?

What does the assessment look like?

Exams: two papers of 2 hours and 15 minutes and one paper which is 1 hour 30 minutes. You will be assessed on your ability to use historical concepts and evidence as well as your source and interpretation skills.

Coursework: students will carry out their own independent historical enquiry about a historical event that has caused debate amongst historians. Students will then communicate their own ideas and interpretation. This is your opportunity to write your own history!

Choose this subject if you…

Find people and the societies they live in interesting! This course is ideal for developing your analytical and communication skills. It is applicable to many careers ranging from medicine to finance to the heritage sector. It is an ideal complementary subject to English, Sociology, Psychology, Government and Politics, and Modern Foreign Languages as well as an ideal contrasting subject to Science and Maths.

What can an A-level in this subject lead to?

Students studying History at A level can go on to study History at university. It is also highly desirable for courses including:

• English Literature
• English Language
• Law
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Philosophy and Ethics
• PPE
• Economics
• Computing

History students are sought after by employers from a variety of fields:

• Banking
• Heritage
• Healthcare
• Public Service
• Journalism

Recommended reading:

• The Wars of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors - Dan Jones.
• The French Revolution: From Enlightenment to Tyranny - Ian Davidson.
• The English Civil War: A People's History - Dianne Purkis.