A Level History

Course summary

History is like an academic time machine. Everything happening around us today has been influenced by and is a result of what has happened in the past. Through studying History, we can examine key events in our collective past, learn how they shape the present and predict what could happen in the future. Studying History at A Level gives you the opportunity to examine and understand major historical events that have impacted our nation and the wider world over the last 500 years. Through the interrogation of sources and interpretations, you will have the unique opportunity to offer your own perspective on our collective history and justify how and why you have reached this viewpoint. At A Level, you will learn to grapple with current historical scholarship and truly ‘do what Historians do’ by engaging in current debate and historiography on the topics you are taught. There are three overarching units of study: Breadth Study: Tudor England 1485 – 1603 Key questions include: Did a king really murder his nephews? Did Henry VII invent fake news? Why did so many people try to overthrow the Tudors? Was Elizabeth I really a virgin Queen? Depth Study: The Cold War 1945 – 1991 Key questions include: How close did we really come to nuclear oblivion? Who won the space race? How did one big wall cause decades of heartache? Why did an 18 year old pilot cause chaos in 1987? Coursework: South Africa in the 20th Century Key questions include: Why is South Africa known as ‘the Rainbow Nation’? What was the impact of Apartheid (racial separation) in South Africa from 1948 onwards? Why did Nelson Mandela spend 27 years in prison? This course is suitable for: - students who are hard working, who are organised and take independent learning and reading seriously. - students who have a genuine interest in History and a passion for argument, debate and interpretation. - students who are competent at writing.