History

Head of Department: Mr J Slater, jslater@abbotshill.herts.sch.uk

Subject Title Examination Board Qualification Subject Code Assessment History Edexcel GCSE History (1-9) GCSE 1H10 Timed Examinations that are covered in Paper One: Medicine through Time, 30% Paper Two: British: Elizabethan England, 20% and World: Cold War, 20% Paper Three: USA; Civil Rights and Vietnam War, 30%

Subject Overview

History is highly regarded amongst colleges, universities and employers. Many people working in law, accountancy and journalism have studied History because of the skills that are developed in critical thinking, reasoning and argument. History also encourages intellectual curiosity, analytical skills, independence of thought and decision-making. There are many other sectors of employment that directly relate to History, such as travel and tourism, museums, the media, libraries, as well as in government and academic research. In determining the past we can help to both understand the world we live in today and have a better idea about patterns in the future.

Course Content

We aim to provide thought–provoking, stimulating and challenging lessons to enable pupils to interpret the past for themselves. History is about who we are and the History Department aims to fire an enthusiasm and curiosity in pupils to find out more about the past.

• Unit 1: Medicine in Britain, c1250 – present day. In this ‘Development Study’ of change and continuity pupils will investigate the various influences on medicine and treatment. This includes the study of the British sector of the Western Front during World War One. • Unit 2: The Cold War 1943-1991. This ‘Depth Study’ will focus on the conflict between the USA and USSR that developed after the Second World War. This unit provides an insight into the world today, giving the pupils an understanding of how countries can be indirect conflict. The unit ends with the fall of the USSR. • Unit 3: Early Elizabethan England, 1558-1588. In this unit pupils will learn how Queen Elizabeth established herself as the ruler of England and then overcame a series of challenges she faced. Pupils will learn why she was so successful and started England on the path of exploration that led to the British Empire. • Unit 4: The USA, 1954-75 Vietnam, conflict at home and abroad. This looks at dramatic events in recent

United States history. Pupils will learn about its involvement in the Vietnam War and how it was the first modern conflict covered by the modern media. We will also study the Civil Rights movement and the fight against racism.