Why should I study history?History is a superb subject to study at GCSE level. It teaches skills of analysis, argument and communication which are important to a wide range of careers including management, business, administration, nursing, the armed forces and the law. It leads to an excellent understanding of people, what motivates them, what they think and feel, which is essential for success in many jobs. People of course are the most fascinating subject of all and our History course is full of interesting and entertaining characters. Most of the evidence for human activity lies in the past, so we need to study History to understand the present more effectively. The course is nationally very popular and is designed to be interesting and enjoyable to increase your commitment and success. What will I study?
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Are there any field trips or enrichment opportunities?
The History Department strongly believes in the value of studying the physical remains of the past in the landscape. We aim to take students to local sites such as Wenlock Priory and Buildwas Abbey as well as to sites abroad like the WWI battlefields.
How will I be assessed?
The exam board for history is Edexcel (GCSE 9-1) and assessment is 100% by examination at the end of the two-year course. This is broken down into three papers, as detailed below.
Paper 1: British Thematic Study with Historic Environment
- Topics covered: History of Medicine from Roman times until the present day and the problems of treating the wounded in the trenches on the Western Front
- Exam duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Worth 30% of final mark
Paper 2: Period Study and British Depth Study
- Topics covered: American West c.1835-1895 and Henry VIII and His Ministers 1509-1540
- Exam duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Worth 40% of final mark
Paper 3: Modern Depth Study
- Topics covered: Weimar and Nazi Germany 1918-1939
- Exam duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Worth 30% of final mark
Will the course be a good preparation for A Level?
Yes it will. The History of Medicine enables students to get an overview of the whole sweep of British history giving a background knowledge of political, religious and technological changes. American history is increasingly popular in A Level and university courses and so the American West is good preparation for such studies. The Tudors and the Nazis are the two most popular topics in History A Level courses and our Henry VIII and Germany topics are excellent introductions.
What are the next steps?
Should you wish to choose history, you will need to add it as the main choice in either the Option 2, Option 3 or Option 4 box. If you have any further questions about this course, please contact our Head of Humanities, Mr Clayton, at
