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History

Our aim is to help students discover how the way we live today has been influenced by past events.  We want to develop critical thinkers who can question the world around them today.  We want them to leave us with an interest in history which will last a lifetime.

 

Exam board:

AQA A-Level History 

 

How is this course examined?

1 x Russia exam (40%). 2 hours 30 minutes

1 x British exam (40%). 2 hours 30 minutes

1 x coursework (20%). 4,000 word essay.

 

The structure of the course:

Year 12 Year 13

Term 1

Britain -  Politics 1951 - 1970

Russia - 1855 - 1881

 

Term 2

Britain - Politics 1970 - 1990

Russia - 1881 - 1894

 

Term 3

Britain - Politics 1990 - 2007

Russia - 1894 - 1906

 

Term 4

Britain - Society 1951-1970

Russia - Recap & 1906 Revolutions

 

Term 5

Britain - Society 1970-1997

Russia - 1906-1917

 

Term 6

Coursework

Term 1

Britain -  Society 1997 - 2007

Russia - 1917 - 1929

 

Term 2

Britain - Foreign Policy 1951 - 1979 

Russia - 1929 - 1941

 

Term 3

Britain - Foreign Policy 1979 - 2007

Russia - 1941 - 1953

 

Term 4

Britain -  Northern Ireland & Start Revision

Russia - 1953 - 1964

 

Term 5

Revision

Why is the course structured this way?

This course is purposely taught in two different ways. The Russia course is a breadth course and covers a wide period of history. As a result it is taught chronologically so students can grasp the key narrative that runs through these years.

The British course on the other hand is a much smaller period of time and as a depth unit works better as a thematically taught unit. This allows us to look at the same narrative with different lenses and understand it synoptically.

The course is broken up with a focus on the coursework (NEA) element at the end of Year 12. This is done in the summer of Year 12 as we feel students are mature enough to take on the independence needed for this then. It is also a good culmination of the writing skills we have built throughout Year 12.

 

How is the course assessed?

  • Knowledge is tested throughout the course through low stakes quizzes and class discussion.
  • Writing skills looking at essays, source analysis and interpretation analysis are assessed through formal exam questions which are marked using official mark schemes.
  • Mock exams give students a chance through the course to test their overall understanding.