History will appeal to you if:

· You have an interest in the world around you, the society in which you live in, and how it has developed.

· You like learning about people, how they interact, and what motivates them.

· You enjoy discussion, debate and argument.

· You like to think for yourself and develop your own ideas.

· You enjoy research and analysing material to check for bias and propaganda.

AS Units

Unit 1 – Russia 1881 - 1953

In this unit you will learn about the developments in the Russian empire between the assassination of Alexander 11 and the death of Stalin. This covers the rise of communism, life under Lenin, the rise and fall of Trotsky and life during Stalin’s dictatorship, including the part played by Russia in the Second World War.

Unit 2 – The Experience of Warfare in Britain 1854 – 1929

The main focus of this option is on the impact of war on social, economic and political developments during this period. You will cover three wars, the Crimea, Boer War and the First World War. In each of these wars there are some interesting characters such as Florence Nightingale, Kitchener, Winston Churchill and Haig to study. You will also get the opportunity to look at developments in fighting and in medicine.

A2 Units

Unit 3 – France, 1786 – 1830: Revolution, Empire and Restoration.

This unit covers 4 main areas:

The onset of revolution and the collapse of the monarchy of Louis XV1 and Marie Antoinette.
Life during the Terror and the role of Robespierre.
France under Napoleon Bonaparte.
The restoration of the Bourbon Monarchy.

Unit 4 – American Civil Rights 1877 – 1981.

This is a coursework unit where you undertake a Historical Inquiry on the contribution of American Presidents on the development of the progress of civil rights. You also get to do your own investigation on a significant figure within the civil rights movement such as Malcolm X, Rosa Parks or Martin Luther King.

Assessment details

Unit 1

Examination

1 hr. 20 min

(50% of AS, 25% of A2)

Unit 2

Examination

1 hr. 20 min

(50% of AS, 25% A2)

Assessment details

Unit 3

Examination

2 hr.

(30% of A level)

Unit 8

Coursework

( 20% of A level)

Progression

History A level equips students with the skills for a wide variety of university courses. Equally, graduates in history have gone on to enter a wide range of occupations, for example, the former Prime Minister Gordon Brown is a Historian.

Exam board

Edexcel