Examination Board: Edexcel
Exact Course Title: GCSE History
Why should I choose to study History?
Students who study history are fearless explorers of the past. They investigate past politics, societies, cultures, languages, health, art, education, money, conflicts and more. They look at how things have developed over time and connect the dots to understand how we got where we are today. In history we study lots of different sources and learn that events are often the result of complex and multiple factors. Politics, communication, beliefs, misunderstandings and even the environment can shape the way things turn out.
What will I learn?
Medicine and Health in Britain c1250-present day – Medicine in medieval England and the Renaissance, medicine in C18th and C19th Britain, medicine in modern Britain, the British sector of the western front medical treatment, injuries and trenches;
Early Elizabethan England – Queen, government and religion, challenges to Elizabeth, the Age of Exploration;
Weimar and Nazi Germany 1918-1939; The Weimar Republic, Hitler’s rise to power, Nazi control and dictatorship, life in Nazi Germany;
Superpower Relations and the Cold War 1941-1991 – the origins of the Cold War, the Cold War crises, Détente and the end of the Cold War.
What will be expected of me?
You will be expected to actively participate in paired, group and whole class activities. You will need to learn a range of historical key concepts, issues and themes alongside specialist vocabulary, key names, events and dates. You will be expected to think critically about historical sources and put together developed arguments related to their reliability and usefulness. You will need to have a passion for history and work to the best of your ability at all times.
What skills will I develop?
History teaches us to ask two very important questions: why and how. This is key to sharpening your critical thinking abilities, which combine the following skills: analysis, research, essay writing, communication, problem solving, argumentation.
How will I be assessed?
Paper 1: Thematic study: Medicine in Britain c1250-present day (30% of the GCSE)
Paper 2: Period and depth study: The Cold War and Elizabethan England (40% of the GCSE)
Paper 3: Modern depth study: Weimar and Nazi Germany (30% of the GCSE);
Where will this qualification lead me?
A GCSE in history will enable you to undertake further study at A level and continue into University or employment. You will be primed for a huge range of careers in history and beyond. Areas you could go into include: law, politics, public sector, business, marketing, journalism, economics, teaching, social research, archaeology and museums.