History

The past is the spotlight on the present. In History GCSE you’re not expected to learn lots of dates. Instead, you’re taught to think, then make up your own mind – the very practice of History itself.

WHY TAKE HISTORY?

When we ask our current and past IGCSE historians what they enjoy about IGCSE History, they almost always say the content. If you’re enjoying the Year 9 course, you will love what’s to come! Here’s something to whet your appetite and give you a sense of the amazing range of topics we study:

• Germany after WW1 • The Wall Street Crash • The Japanese invasion of Manchuria • The Italian invasion of Abyssinia • Hitler’s takeover of Europe • The division of Germany and the Berlin blockade • The Cuban Missile Crisis • The Korean and Vietnam Wars • The rise and fall of the Berlin Wall • The collapse of communism in eastern Europe • Iraq under Saddam Hussein • The Iranian Revolution • China since the 1930s

Also, History develops a whole range of skills that are invaluable in later life. Here are just some of the advantages of studying History:

• You will use information effectively - this can help shed light on a particular problem or issue confronting an organisation or individual. You will weigh up conflicting factors carefully before making critical decisions. • You will be analytical and critical when considering information presented to you. • You will understand how and why humans behaved as they did - and may behave in similar circumstances again. This can be vital in relations with the most complex factor in any job - your colleagues! • You will learn the arts of oral debate and expressing a clear personal point of view - invaluable skills at job or university interviews. • You will enjoy looking at the past! It’s fun! People in the past were every bit as clever, stupid, interesting and varied in personality as people today. • You will see how studying the people of the past can give you real insight into people alive now. It will help you understand how and why humans behave as they do when confronted with the crises of today.

Unless you become a lighthouse keeper or a hermit, you’ll need to understand other people with all their complexities. Knowledge of people is the greatest asset of all. • You will see how many of the problems and strengths of the world today have their roots in the past: great or mistaken decisions; combinations of developments; conspiracies or complete mess-ups all played their part!

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU’LL DO IN LESSONS?

History is taught through many ways, for example: • reading and critiquing the work of historians; • sharing your own independent research into aspects of the course which most interest you; • role-plays; • constructing a reasoned argument both in writing and in debates; • fun simulations designed to make ideas easier to grasp; • using a range of multi-media resources.

This all means that, by the end of the course, you won’t be repeating the ideas of others; instead you’ll be a true historian with convincing views of your own.

HOW ARE YOU ASSESSED?

The course is made up of: 3 examination papers The Core Unit we study is: The C20th: International Relations since 1919. The Depth Study we currently study is: China, c1930 – c1990. The examination papers cover a mixture of source analysis and recall skills, and is most certainly not all essays by any means. As for the topics we cover, they are interesting, challenging and very relevant to today’s world - so ask you teacher for more information about these units!

History

WHAT ELSE IS ON OFFER? In April we are again offering Year 11 the chance to visit Berlin and we intend to offer this trip to the current Year 9 and 10. We also took a group to China jointly with the Geography department in October 2018 and are planning another long-haul trip in the next few years. These are optional, but designed to supplement your studies in an interesting and enjoyable way. The cost will depend on the destination, but Berlin is currently in the region of £550. Year 11 also participate in our History Society known as the History Girls. Every week, a student leads a discussion on a topic which interests them – anything from Ancient Greece to witchcraft to the global youth revolt of 1968. Lively debate and broadening of horizons are guaranteed!

WHERE CAN HISTORY TAKE YOU IN THE FUTURE?

Anywhere and everywhere! Universities and employers recognise the skills you develop in studying History.

They want people who are: Independent thinkers Open-minded Disciplined Good at problem solving Able to pick out the essential from the trivial

Studying History is all about this – as we said at the start of this section. We’ll leave the last word to the ‘Which?’ company:

‘Historians are regarded as having had an education that trains their minds to assemble, organise and present facts and opinions and this is a very useful quality in many walks of life and careers…history is an excellent preparation for very many other jobs’.

So History really can help you end up wherever you want to be!