Students who choose to study History at key stage 4 will follow the AQA GCSE History course.

Our course provides students with plenty of enrichment opportunities, a focus on local history, engaging students in the subject to encourage a long-lasting love for history, developing key analytical skills and conceptual awareness, and exploring course content in greater depth.

The types of tasks completed are:

• Written tasks, both short and extended answers. We use model answers and both teacher and peer assessment to provide students with excellent feedback. This ensures students make excellent progress and are well-prepared for their exams in Year 11.
• The study of primary sources; teaching how to understand and use provenance effectively when assessing utility.
• Research tasks: using the internet, books, and media to write projects.
• Group debates and discussions using historical knowledge. 
• Use of video footage and films to engage and educate students. We also assess the accuracy of historical films.
• Human timelines to improve chronological understanding.
• Presentations to develop self-confidence and consolidate understanding.
• IT skills using Chromebooks and AI.
• Memory games to develop revision skills in preparation for PPEs and exams.
• Fun quizzes and spaced learning to assess and recap knowledge, as well as make synoptic links between lessons.
• Use of online videos on YouTube to help with revision.

The course is assessed by two 2-hour written examinations:

• Paper 1 – Germany, 1890-1945 (25%) and Conflict and Tension, 1918–1939 (25%).
• Paper 2 – Britain: Health and the People (25%) and Elizabethan England, c1568–1603 (25%).

History is a well-established subject which colleges and employers recognise as challenging and valuable. It develops many useful skills, including the ability to interpret information, to evaluate the utility of information, skills in comprehension and writing, and to evaluate and justify one’s independent judgement. These are skills used in other subjects, many careers, and everyday life.

History is an excellent qualification to have for further learning and education. It also develops skills required for careers in law, journalism, the Police, and numerous corporate jobs. It also strengthens writing, communication, and is a very popular qualification to have.

Click here to return to the History page.