A Level - History

Course Summary

Subject: History

Course Title: A Level - History

Course Types: Sixth Form

Course Level: A-Level

Course Description

Introduction and Course Description

We want A Level History to be a very positive experience for all who take the course, as well as a successful one. We have now been delivering our current courses for six years, seeing five cohorts through the new examination. Their results are shown below. We are continuously refining and improving our resources and we find boys respond positively to the courses. We usually provide boys with a small office for private study, numbers permitting, but unfortunately in the current circumstances that cannot be offered. We will, however, resume its use when possible. A significant proportion of those who opted for the subject in recent years have gone on to study History as a single honours degree or as part of a joint Honours or in a History related course, such as Classical Civilisation or Politics.

Breadth Study: 1G Challenge and Transformation: Britain, c1851-1964

This is a challenging, immensely interesting and significant period of history. Within it there are a number of colourful characters who made a vast contribution to shaping the country we now live in: people such as Benjamin Disraeli, William Gladstone, David Lloyd George, Winston Churchill and Clement Attlee. The course requires the study of a number of fascinating themes, such as the changes in the political system and nature of party politics and changes in attitudes to and the nature of social policy in the period. It also analyses the nature of Britain’s relationship with Ireland, the growth of trade unionism, the state of the economy and the impact of two World Wars on Britain. This will be done through analysis of the key concepts of causation, consequence, change, continuity and significance.

Depth Study 2R: The Cold War, c1945-1991

This course builds on and extends your study of international relations at GCSE. Again it is a very significant time in the shaping of our modern world and involved some key figures from history: people such as Stalin, Khrushchev, Brezhnev, Castro, and Gorbachev, along with Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Carter. Themes such as communism, anti-communism, aggression and détente are addressed in this course, as are issues such as the impact of modern military technology and factors which precipitated confrontation, and those which promoted peace making during the Cold War. Students will study major events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the Gulf War.

Assessment: the examination papers

Both papers will require students to undertake two essays from a choice of three, along with a source question. In Unit One the sources will be secondary evidence and in Unit Two they will be contemporary.

Non-Examined Assessment

It is through this part of the course that the History Department will fulfil the requirement that the History A Level courses cover a 200 year period. Students will be able to select a question from a range approved by AQA. Our questions are usually selected from the topics areas listed below. This is because we have built up an extensive library for these areas of study.

• Conflicts: Their Causes and Nature 1756-1871
• Conflicts: Their Causes and Nature 1789-1905

Students will begin their research in the summer of Year 12, after which they will select their question and begin a series of regular review meetings with their History teachers designed to support them in their independent study.

Submission will be almost immediately after Christmas to allow sufficient time for the revision of the two taught units. The non-examined assessment is required to be no more than 4,500 words in length. In addition to developing knowledge and understanding of the periods studied, the courses will develop important skills such as the ability to analyse and evaluate sources, while also providing opportunities to develop the ability to write in a balanced, analytical and coherent manner.

What happens in lessons?

Lessons are delivered by enthusiastic subject specialists who aim to make lessons fun and engaging. Students will be encouraged to think independently and a range of media and sources will be used to support learning. As a department, we want to see students achieve the best they can and will work very hard to support them in this endeavour, as we did at GCSE. In return, students will be expected to give one hundred per cent effort at all times and to be reliable in the submission of work, as these are key requisites in maximising potential at A Level.

Students will be regularly assessed on practice questions and their progress monitored so support can be offered when appropriate. They will be provided with guidance as to how to approach the different types of question on the two papers and will receive regular fact tests to ensure they are developing their factual knowledge.

Combining A Level choices

A Level History supports and combines well with most subjects. Popular combinations include English Language, English Literature, Government and Politics, Modern Languages, Economics and Law. It can also combine very usefully with Mathematics and Sciences, providing a valuable set of complementary skills

Future Opportunities

As stated earlier, many students from Wirral Grammar School have developed a life-long love of History and gone on to study History and related disciplines at university. Others have found that the study of History is relevant to many career areas: the legal professions, civil service, tourism, local government, education, banking, retail, accountancy, commerce and journalism.

See what career this course can give you access

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