History

History offers the committed student a tremendous opportunity – you can study some of the most exciting, controversial and important stories of the past and do so in an academically respectable way. The course ranges over the sixteenth and twentieth centuries, and includes some of the social, political and intellectual topics that have shaped the way we live and think today. Lots of subjects deal with big issues and big personalities, but History is different; in History the big issues really happened and the big personalities really existed. You can have fun, and develop an exceptional range of transferable skills. We love history – let us show you why!

Course structure /

Exam board: OCR

Unit 1: The Tudors: England 1485 – 1603 (40%) The whole sweep of the Tudor family, from Henry VII’s seizure of the throne through to his granddaughters Bloody Mary and Gloriana.

Unit 2: The American Dream: reality and illusion, 1945 – 1980 (40%) The way the USA rose to dominate the world in the years after World War Two, and the way presidents like Kennedy and Nixon dealt with the challenges they faced.

NEA: Non-Examined Assessment (20%) An extended essay on a topic of your own choosing. Beyond A Level /

History teaches a broad range of transferable skills which equip you to do just about anything at degree level and beyond. You will learn to assess material critically and then turn it into a clear, organised and convincing argument – exactly the kind of skills that careers like law, journalism and public relations call for. However, you don’t have to be limited to that – history will demonstrate an understanding of and empathy for the human condition, leading into careers in medicine, NGOs, the civil service and charitable sectors.

Entry requirements /

GCSE History (Grade 6) or English Language or English Literature (Grade 6).