History

Assessment

We offer the following: The Making of Modern Britain, 1951–2007 This option provides for the study in depth of the key political, economic, social and international changes which helped to mould Britain in the second half of the 20th century. It explores concepts such as government and opposition, class, social division and cultural change. It encourages students to reflect on Britain’s changing place in the world as well as the interrelationship between political policies, economic developments and political survival. Part one: Building a new Britain, 1951–1979 Part two: Modern Britain, 1979–2007 Both courses are full of interesting ideas, compelling personalities and harrowing events. Most students will have some knowledge already of the outstanding events and characters of the Russian Revolution from the last days of the Tsarist regime to the purges of Stalin. However, Modern Britain is equally fascinating and resonates with us today: for example, it includes Britain's position globally and how this affects foreign and domestic policy. The period looks at the development of post-war democracy in Britain and the impact this had on the economy, society, and culture of Britain and offers students an opportunity to scrutinise modern Britain from a historical perspective. Our final component is a historical investigation in which students complete a personal study on the causes of the American Civil War. This involves a short course followed by independent research. Once again, this course is full of well-known characters such as Abraham Lincoln, along with lesser-known individuals such as Frederick Douglass and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Students will look at how the terrible abuses of slavery were intertwined with the early years of the USA. This topic can be studied through the medium of film and literature as well as through history books. It has been said that ‘No one can understand America without some knowledge of the Civil War’. (Shelby Foote). For exceptionally committed and outstanding students there may be the opportunity for them to pursue a topic of their own choice. Finally, history is about debate, it is about formulating an argument; this means that all our history lessons are discussion-based. Level History students need to engage in the debate and need to be able to defend their interpretations of events robustly whilst listening to alternative viewpoints. They must be prepared to work hard to gain detailed, specific contextual knowledge about the periods we study and use this to interrogate and assess primary and secondary sources. There is no doubt that A Level History is challenging and students have to work hard, but this is what makes it such a rewarding and worthwhile subject.