History

Fieldwork is an integral part of the course so students should look forward to trips to local destinations where they can witness the theory in action. Pupils should also begin to look at the world around them with a keener geographical gaze and may be invited to attend lectures/conferences, take part in the Geographical Association annual competition and are encouraged to regularly read the Wideworld magazine.

Future pathways

Geography’s integrating nature makes it a good choice at A Level since it combines easily with maths, sciences, creative arts subjects and other humanities. It provides you with key transferable skills that are valued by employers in specific areas such as town planning, architecture, environmental conservation, journalism, leisure and tourism or civil engineering. More widely, it is highly regarded by financial (banking) and ICT industries as well as businesses where management roles are often filled by geographers.

History Board: AQA Specification: 8145

Why Study GCSE History?

History allows students to think deeply about pervasive human and societal issues, and produces well-rounded, politically and socially-aware young people who can draw parallels between different eras and who understand the relevance of History to the present, allowing them to be active and informed citizens of the future. The worldlywisdom it imparts is very good preparation for most workplaces and adult life in general, and crucial transferrable skills, such as distillation, evaluation, debate and persuasive writing are continuously strengthened as students discover and engage with the excitement and colour of past events.

Important information

We study four units in total, aiming to spend about 15 weeks on each unit. A range of different approaches is taken to lessons. Some will be discussion-based seminars, some will involve group work, or focused research on a specific enquiry question; some will be based on exam technique or the development of written skills. At GCSE, students begin to take greater responsibility for independent and group work and for meeting deadlines. The course is designed to be as accessible and supportive as possible, with a continued focus on building knowledge, subject-specific terminology and revision strategies. Booster sessions and drop-ins are also available for anyone who feels the need for a little extra support.

Entry requirements

The main requirements are enjoyment and interest, built up through studying History at KS3, as well as positive feedback and results in History assessments up to now. At the end of Year 9, if you have been at Ashford School, you will already have started the first GCSE unit of work on Health and the People. If you are joining from elsewhere at the start of Year 10, it is recommended that you research Medicine in the Ancient World. You should find out about Hippocrates in Ancient Greece, Galen in Ancient Rome and Roman sanitation systems. You can do this easily online and you should aim to make notes about what you discover.

Course Overview and Content

There are four main units in the new GCSE course, spread over two exams, each worth 50%. The units we have chosen to teach are varied, interesting and relevant to a lot of current national, global and political themes: