History

Sixth Form

Course Title: AQA GCE A Level History, AQA-7041-7042-SP-2015-History.PDF

What are the knowledge and skills that students will gain over Key Stage 5?

At Key Stage 5 we are aiming to develop our students into independent historians who are able to tackle the rigours of studying A level History in a competent and confident manner. We aim to extend the skills embedded at Key Stages 3 & 4 and equip students with the ability to study History at a higher level. We are also aiming to show students the huge value that the study of history has in preparing students for a wide range of further education and career choices.

A level history is underpinned by four Assessment Objectives.

AO1: Demonstrate, organise and communicate knowledge and understanding to analyse and
evaluate the key features related to the periods studied, making substantiated
judgements and exploring concepts, as relevant, of cause, consequence, change,
continuity, similarity, difference and significance.

AO2: Analyse and evaluate appropriate source material, primary and/or contemporary to the
period, within its historical context.

AO3: Analyse and evaluate, in relation to the historical context, different ways in which aspects
of the past have been interpreted.

There are three separate components to the course;

1.Breadth Study: Tsarist and Communist Russia 1855–1964
2.Depth Study: The Making of Modern Britain 1951–2007
3.Historical Investigation: The Growth of Democracy in Britain 1800-1920. An independent study culminating in a 3000-3500 word essay. Worth 20% of A-level

Why is it delivered in this way?

These units were chosen within the rules set out by the exam board which state that students must study a period of at least 200 years across all three components. At John Colet we have taught Tsarist and Communist Russia for some years and it has always proved to be an extremely popular topic with A level students. The British history unit was chosen because we felt it presented an opportunity for students to study a very exciting and contemporary period in history, which covers a range of different themes.