HISTORY GCSE

Exam Board: Edexcel Specification Code: 1HI0

Course Overview

History is an excellent opportunity for pupils to gain a knowledge of the history of conflict in the early modern and contemporary world. This course will also give pupils the opportunity to develop their research and debating skills. Pupils will be given the opportunity to practise evaluating historical sources and analysing life changing decisions, as they will be asked for their judgements on the actions and events of the past.

Unit 1: Medicine in Britain, C1250-present & The British sector of the Western Front, 1914-1918 injuries, treatment and the trenches

This is a thematic unit that enables pupils to develop an understanding of the nature and process of change across a wide period of time. This will involve understanding patterns of change, trends and turning points.

Unit 2: Henry VIII and his Ministers, 1509-1540 & Superpower Relations & Cold War, 1941-1991

The first half of this unit is a British depth study of England during the reign of Henry VIII. The pupils will learn about the work of Thomas Wolsey and his successor Thomas Cromwell. There will also be a key focus on the Reformation that introduced religious changes throughout England between 1534 and 1540.

The second half of this unit is a period study of the relationships between the USA and the Soviet Union after the Second World War. The pupils will gain an understanding of why the Cold War broke out and its repercussions in various regions of the world such as Berlin, Cuba and Afghanistan.

Unit 3: Weimar and Nazi Germany 1918 – 1939

This is a depth study that focuses on the social, economic, political, cultural and military aspects of Germany across a twenty year period. This unit gives pupils the opportunity to learn about the situation in Germany after the First World War and how this helped Hitler to come to power. They will gain an in-depth knowledge of life under the Nazis including the Holocaust.

Examination:

Exams are at the end of Year 11

Three External Exams

• Unit 1 - One hour 15 minute exam 30% (Assesses knowledge & source skills)

• Unit 2 - One hour 45 minute exam 40% (Assesses knowledge)

• Unit 3 – One hour 20 minute exam 30% (Assesses knowledge & source skills)