History

Examining Body: OCR (Specification B)

Pupils studying History at Graham School gain knowledge and develop abilities that will prove useful to them throughout their lives, whether they choose to remain in education, or begin a career.

This course looks at the political, social and military History of Britain and the wider world throughout the 20th Century.

The course looks at one of the key issues affecting the latter half of the twentieth century; the Cold War. Students will study ideological differences that led to tension, the Cuban Missile Crisis which nearly caused a nuclear war, and the controversial Vietnam War. Prior to this, interwar Germany will be studied in depth, with consideration given to the difficulties facing the Weimar government, and the emergence and dominance of the Nazi regime.

Students will also study Britain from 1939 until 1975; a period that shaped how we live today.

What can I do with this qualification when I leave school?

• History GCSE at grade C or better forms part of the English Baccalaureate.
• GCE A level is available at Sixth Forms and could lead on to a degree at a university.
• Very many professions recognise History as providing valuable skills.

These topics are taught in such a way as to encourage parallels to be drawn with the modern world with regard to such concepts as extremism, peace, and global government.

Research skills and personal organisation, the ability to form an opinion based on the facts and then express this verbally and on paper, to discuss and come to a balanced conclusion, and the ability to analyse a wide range of source material to decide what is true and what is not will be developed.

The course grade will be drawn from the two final exams at the end of Year 11 and the Controlled Assessment in a ratio of 75%:25%.

Published February 14, 2011