Aims

To develop and extend students’ knowledge and understanding of specified key events, periods and societies in local, British and wider world history; and of the wide diversity of human experience

Course Content

The following five units are taught in Years 9-11.

Part 1: Thematic Study: The People’s Health, c.1250 to present

This unit requires learners to understand change and continuity across a long sweep of history.

• We will look at Medieval Britain and the responses to the Black Death
• Industrial Britain will look at the problems caused by urbanisation such as Cholera
• We will consider the government responses to new threats such as AIDS

Part 2: British Depth Study

The Norman Conquest, 1065–1087

• How and why William became King in 1066
• How the Normans ruled, including Castles and Feudalism

Part 3: History Around Us

A study of a local site, Portchester Castle, including a visit and follow up lessons looking at archive material.

Part 4: Period Study

The Making of America, 1789–1900

A focused study of a 50 year period.  Topics will cover the expansion of slavery; the growth of cattle and mining towns; the impact of the gold rush; and the changes to the Plains Indians’ way of life.

Part 5: World Depth Study

Living under Nazi Rule, 1933–1945

This unit is taught in Year 9 and covers how Nazi policies affected the lives of the people living in Germany.  We will look at control through propaganda and terror.  The lives of women, workers and youth, and the Nazis’ racial policy.

How is GCSE History Assessed?

Paper One: 1 hour 45 minutes

Students answer questions from the Thematic Study and British Depth Study.  This is worth 80 marks and 40% of the final grade.

Paper Two:  History Around Us:  1 hour

Students answer two questions which are worth a total of 40 marks + 10 marks for SPaG and is 20% of the final grade.

Paper Three:  1 hour 45 minutes

Students answer questions on the Period Study and World Depth Study.  This is worth 80 marks and 40% of the final grade. 

Progression

This course develops skills of reason, debating, communication and language, which are required in many ‘A’ Level courses, for example, ‘A’ Level History, Politics, Law, Economics, Philosophy and other Social Science courses.  GCSE History is useful for a career in Law, Journalism, Media, Banking, Civil Service, Police and Social Work, to name just a few.