History

Overview
We encourage our students to take responsibility for their own learning with a variety of student-centred activities in class and a wide range of imaginative classroom strategies: small group and pair work; presentations; discussion and debate; video, power-point and a Virtual Learning Environment. Students must be prepared to study outside the classroom, reading textbooks, making detailed notes, preparing summaries, developing arguments and solving problems independently. Students also need to be interested in people, their motivations and behaviour, and different societies. We offer a choice between two distinct History options at AS, Tudor and Modern History.  At A2 students will be able to choose from the options available that year.

Course Outline
AS Level
Unit 1:  Historical Enquiries - Document Paper
Tudor – Mid-Tudor Crisis 1536-1569 ;
Modern – England and a New Century 1889-1924
Unit 2:  Period Study
Tudor – Spain 1469-1556;
Modern – Democracy and Dictatorship in Germany 1919-1963.

A2 Level
Unit 3:  Coursework Historical Investigation
All students complete a two part coursework assessment.  The first, part a), uses sources to assess Historical Interpretations after a taught course.  The second b) is a Personal Investigation which allows students to develop a topic of individual interest.
Tudor – Taught course on Phillip II;
Modern – Taught course on Anglo-German relations 1918-1939 and the policy of appeasement.
Unit 4:  Historical Theme
Tudor – Rebellion and Disorder in England 1485-1603;
Modern – Russian Dictatorship 1855-1964.

Assessment
Coursework (0% of AS, 40% of A2)
Examination (100% of AS; 60% of A2)
Examining Board – OCR.

Special Entry Requirements
Students will have at least a Grade C at GCSE in English Language (although a grade B is desirable) and must have a C or above in History if they have taken it at GCSE. It is not necessary however to have studied History at GCSE.

Prohibited Options
Students may not study more than one of our two History options, but may study History alongside Ancient History.

Career and Progression Opportunities
History students progress to a wide range of careers and degree courses where the skills of comprehension, analysis and evaluation are particularly valued. Careers in the media, business and management, the civil service and personnel are all open to you, and History is considered helpful if you are intending to study Law at University .

Coursework
History students have a wonderful opportunity to explore their personal interests and enthusiasm through their A2 coursework. The Part a) is based upon a short taught course and focus upon debates in history where there are conflicting historical interpretations. The second Part b) is individually designed by the student who can choose any subject or historical period, drawn from any branch of History – for example, social, military, economic or art History, not just political. The final outcome will be two professionally presented essays each of 2,000 words .

Course Activities
Although there are no compulsory excursions or fieldwork in History, students will be offered the chance to participate in appropriate study days and conferences and go on occasional visits to places relevant to their course option. We recently held a study visit to St Petersburg (see photo on reverse), and visit the Battlefields of the First World War, Hampton Court, the National Archives, Cabinet War Rooms and the Churchill Exhibition every year.

Cost Implications
Study days and conferences usually cost £14-20 plus travel costs. Visits to places of interest usually incur travel costs only. No trips are compulsory. Students are given the opportunity to purchase Twentieth Century History Review at a discounted rate although there is no expectation to purchase textbooks for their course. The department will supply a wide range of personalised study packs and textbooks that will include standard class resources and extension material to encourage stretch and challenge .

Complementary Subjects or Enrichment Courses
All History courses are traditionally linked with subjects such as Politics, Sociology, English, Economics and Religious Studies and there are sound reasons for these combinations. However, our experience has shown that scientists find History an ideal companion subject, with a complementary enhancement of logical thinking, while Psychology, Philosophy and Critical Thinking also fit very well with the training of the mind which History requires and encourages.

Other Information
Students enjoy the varied activities undertaken in class and student surveys are very positive about the teaching in the department. The trips and visits programme is expanding with study visits planned for both AS level courses.

This information is correct for September 2012 entry.