History

Subject information

History at Guthlaxton

History is a popular option at Guthlaxton College, with six classes in the current year 10. The department is lead by Mrs K Rifugiato; other teachers include Mr. D. Lewin, Mr. R. Coles, Mrs S Goddard and Mrs. S. Tunstall.

Accomodation

There are four class rooms currently used by the History Department Staff. The main rooms are A0.3 and A0.4 on the ground floor of A block. The rooms are well maintained with up to date wall displays.

In the Classroom

We use a wide range of teaching methods and resources, including:

Text books- The College library has recently been stocked with extra history books to help coursework.

Specification

GCSE Exam Board AQA

Exam

Paper 1 - Conflict 35%
Paper 2 - Modern Times 40%
Paper 3 - Coursework 25%

AS (1 Year) and A2 (Additional 2nd Year)

This is for the imaginative and conscientious students who enjoy a challenge and are interested in the past. By studying the minds and motives of people in the past, you will develop the ability to question and evaluate facts in order to present persuasive arguments. You do not need to have studied History to GCSE level to start the course but you should have gained 5 Grade A*-C grades and be able to write fluently.

AS Advanced Subsidiary) Specification

This is the first half of the full A level course. If you and your teacher agree that it’s best for you, you can take the AS level at the end of Year 12. The final grade will count towards entry to Further/Higher Education.

The AS level is made up of three units:

Unit 1 40% AS or 20% A level
Votes for Women in Britain  
Assessment: Written examination of 1 hour. Two source based questions.
Unit 2 30% AS or 15% A level
Civil Rights in USA-Race question.  
Assessment: Written examination of 55 minutes-Two essays
Unit 3 30% AS or 15% A Level
Britain in the Age of the Welfare State 1945-1964  
Assessment: Written examination of 55 minutes-Two essays

Advanced Level (AS and A2) Specification

The full Advanced level qualification is made up on the 3 AS Units, plus 3 more Units studied at A2 level. If you decide to continue with the second half of the course in Year 13, you will study the following additional Units.

Unit 4 15% of A Level
Individual Assignment (to be written up in 3 hours)
Unit 5 15% of A Level
Britain and Decolonization 1870-1980
Assessment: Written examination of 1 hour-1 essay
Unit 6 20% of A level
Soviet Union after Lenin 1924-1941
Assessment: Written examination of 1 hour and 45 minutes-2 sources based essays

Able and More Able Students

Able students are encouraged to do higher level work in lessons. Extension work is also sent home on a termly basis and we encourage parents to support the initiative.

Special Education Needs

History is an academic subject. However, we offer ‘Entry Level Certificate for those who find GCSE too difficult.

Trips and Visits

The History Department has an annual residential outing in Year 10 to the World War I Battlefields of France/Belgium to raise awareness and knowledge for GCSE studies. This is found to be very beneficial and interesting for students.

There is also a visit to a conference about Stalin at Birmingham every spring for year 13 students.

We have arranged a trip for Year 11 students to see a Theatre Production at the Y Theatre in Leicester of Hitler on Trial in which Adolf Hitler is charged with causing the Second World War. Prosecution and Defence Counsels question nine witnesses whose testimony offers two contrasting interpretations of the causes of the Second World War.

There was also a trip arranged for Year 12 students to go to the National Archives at Kew Gardens London before half term to have a workshop on Militant Suffragette Activities which was thought to be very useful and interesting by all those who attended.