History

Overview The study of History at GCSE level provides students with the ability to express their views and opinions (both oral and written) in a clear manner, to put forward well researched ideas and arguments in a concise manner, to investigate and assess a variety of materials and to organise such material in a logical and coherent way. Furthermore, the programme of study allows pupils to gain a greater understanding of international issues and inter-relationships between nations, people and events and they will learn how to present clear, logical, reasoned and supported arguments.

Syllabus Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (4HI1) Course Aims The International GCSE in History should enable students to: • develop and extend their knowledge and understanding of specified key events, periods and societies in history; and of the wide diversity of human experience • engage in historical enquiry to develop as independent learners and as critical and reflective thinkers • develop the ability to ask relevant questions about the past, to investigate issues critically and to make valid historical claims by using a range of sources in their historical context • develop an awareness that different people, events and developments have been accorded • historical significance and how and why different interpretations have been constructed about them • organise and communicate their historical knowledge and understanding in different ways and reach substantiated conclusions. Course Content The course covers 4 topics and periods of history: 1. Germany: Development of Dictatorship, 1918-45 2. A World Divided: Superpower relations, 1943-72 3. The Vietnam Conflict, 1945-75 4. Changes in Medicine, c1848-c1948 Assessment There are two assessed units Both are examined at the end of D Block (Year 11). Paper One (depth studies – topics 1 and 2): Content: Students answer two questions, one on each of the depth studies they have studied. Marks: 60 Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes. Paper Two (investigation and breadth studies – topics 3 and 4): Content: Students answer two questions, one question on their historical investigation and one question on their breadth study in change. Marks: 60 Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes.