History

A-Level

Examination Board: Pearson Edexcel

Specification: 9H10

Course Leader: Miss B Fairs

Contact Email: bfairs@tgschool.net

Are you interested in:

• Analysing information?

• Discussion and debate?

• Research and the evaluation of evidence?

• Independent reading?

What Will I Study?

History is a fascinating subject which encourages students to consider the role of individuals, events and key themes and their contributions to our past. It offers parallels with our society today, helping us to explain current events and issues. Everyone has a connection with the past; it is about discovering which aspect of the past unlocks an individual’s interest.

Paper 1: Germany and West Germany, 1918–89 - In this unit you study how the republic, set up after the First World War, was turned into a dictatorship under Hitler. Then, after the Second World War, how West Germany had to deal with the legacy of the Nazis. A special case study is based on how far Hitler was responsible for the outbreak of the Second World War.

Paper 2: The Rise and Fall of Fascism in Italy, c1911–46 - In this unit you will learn about the nature of the profound political, economic and social changes experienced by the Italian people in the years c1911–1946 and how the failure to create a stable, democratic Italian state in the early twentieth century led to the rise of Fascism and emergence of Mussolini as a leader.

Paper 3: Lancastrians, Yorkists and Henry VII, 1399–1509 - This unit focuses on Shakespeare’s Kings from his great cycle of history plays. From the Triumph of Henry V at Agincourt to the spectacular death of Richard III on the battlefield, deserted by all including his horse, the question in the background was always who should be King? Did a mad King and a bad marriage result in the blood and gore of the Wars of the Roses?

NEA: The Witch Craze c1450-c1750 - This is a coursework/NEA unit based on the nature of the witch craze that took hold in the late sixteenth century and the changing attitudes to magic and sorcery that eventually contributed to its decline. Students study the social, economic and political aspects of the phenomenon, using case studies like Matthew Hopkins and the Salem witch hunt.

Additional Entry Requirements:

Grade 5 in GCSE History.

Assessment:

At the end of the course you will sit three exams and submit a piece of coursework/NEA.

Leading to futures in:

Many students go on to study History further at university, but a variety of other options are available due to the transferable skills students develop. These include communication skills (both written and verbal) and the ability to critically evaluate evidence, arguments, and interpretations. History is highly regarded by employers and will equip students for many different occupations, including teaching, law, journalism and working in the Civil Service.