There is no doubt that History is a demanding subject, but when well-taught by enthusiastic, knowledgeable and inspirational teachers, the rewards are tremendous. The skills build on those learned at IGCSE. Pupils will emerge after two years with an understanding of the key historical events that have shaped the world in which they live. A-Level History allows pupils to study themes in-depth, making it an ideal basis for university study, and it includes a coursework unit in the Upper Sixth year which enables pupils to engage with individual research methods. Pupils will be expected to read widely, research material independently and be able to write with increasing accuracy and fluency. The ability of argue will also be an advantage. The Department will, of course, aim to foster all these skills and has over recent years produced some extremely gifted historians who have gone on to study the subject at university.
At least a grade 6 in IGCSE/GCSE History or English.
The Lower Sixth Year In the Lower Sixth pupils will study two units which will be examined in the Upper Sixth Year. Unit One is a breadth study with historical interpretations, Russia, 1917–91: from Lenin to Yeltsin. Pupils will answer three questions in the examination, two essay and one interpretation question. The examination lasts two hours, 15 minutes. Unit Two is a depth study, and students will study Mao’s China, 1949–76. Pupils answer two questions in the examination, a source analysis question and one essay. The examination lasts one hour 30 minutes. The Upper Sixth Year There are two further units in the Upper Sixth. One is a coursework unit (Unit Four). This will enable students to develop skills in the analysis and evaluation of interpretations of history as part of an independently researched assignment. The focus is on understanding the nature and purpose of the work of the historian. Students will be specifically required to analyse, explain and evaluate the interpretations of three historians based around a controversial historical issue. The coursework will be assessed using a centre-set assignment. The department will deliver a short introductory course on skills and then supervise students during the process of researching and writing their coursework. It is internally marked and externally moderated. Pupils are able to choose controversies from their three examination units. The examination unit (Unit Three) will be on the topic of protest, agitation and parliamentary reform in Britain 1770-1928. The paper comprises Aspects in breadth which focus on long-term changes and contextualise the Aspects in depth, which focus in detail on key episodes in the period. The parliamentary reform topic will cover areas such as the background to the 1832 Reform Act, Chartism and the further reform acts of the 19th century, the struggle for female suffrage and the development of the trade union movement and the birth of the Labour Party. The examination lasts two hours 15 minutes and pupils answer three questions, one source question and two essays.
About Education Provider
| Region | East of England |
| Local Authority | Bedford |
| Ofsted Rating | |
| Gender Type | Boys |
| ISI Report | View Report |
| Boarding Fee | £42,015 - £44,238 |
| Sixth Form Fee | Day £25,695 |
| Address | De Parys Avenue, Bedford, MK40 2TU |
There is no doubt that History is a demanding subject, but when well-taught by enthusiastic, knowledgeable and inspirational teachers, the rewards are tremendous. The skills build on those learned at IGCSE. Pupils will emerge after two years with an understanding of the key historical events that have shaped the world in which they live. A-Level History allows pupils to study themes in-depth, making it an ideal basis for university study, and it includes a coursework unit in the Upper Sixth year which enables pupils to engage with individual research methods. Pupils will be expected to read widely, research material independently and be able to write with increasing accuracy and fluency. The ability of argue will also be an advantage. The Department will, of course, aim to foster all these skills and has over recent years produced some extremely gifted historians who have gone on to study the subject at university.
At least a grade 6 in IGCSE/GCSE History or English.
The Lower Sixth Year In the Lower Sixth pupils will study two units which will be examined in the Upper Sixth Year. Unit One is a breadth study with historical interpretations, Russia, 1917–91: from Lenin to Yeltsin. Pupils will answer three questions in the examination, two essay and one interpretation question. The examination lasts two hours, 15 minutes. Unit Two is a depth study, and students will study Mao’s China, 1949–76. Pupils answer two questions in the examination, a source analysis question and one essay. The examination lasts one hour 30 minutes. The Upper Sixth Year There are two further units in the Upper Sixth. One is a coursework unit (Unit Four). This will enable students to develop skills in the analysis and evaluation of interpretations of history as part of an independently researched assignment. The focus is on understanding the nature and purpose of the work of the historian. Students will be specifically required to analyse, explain and evaluate the interpretations of three historians based around a controversial historical issue. The coursework will be assessed using a centre-set assignment. The department will deliver a short introductory course on skills and then supervise students during the process of researching and writing their coursework. It is internally marked and externally moderated. Pupils are able to choose controversies from their three examination units. The examination unit (Unit Three) will be on the topic of protest, agitation and parliamentary reform in Britain 1770-1928. The paper comprises Aspects in breadth which focus on long-term changes and contextualise the Aspects in depth, which focus in detail on key episodes in the period. The parliamentary reform topic will cover areas such as the background to the 1832 Reform Act, Chartism and the further reform acts of the 19th century, the struggle for female suffrage and the development of the trade union movement and the birth of the Labour Party. The examination lasts two hours 15 minutes and pupils answer three questions, one source question and two essays.