History - A Level

History – Communism in the 20th Century (Russia 1917 – 1991 and China 1949 – 1976), British History c. 1780 to 1928 and coursework on Stalin and the purges.

Students will study Democracy, Autocracy and Dictatorship in Russia (1917 – 1991) and China (1949 – 1976).

In the second year students will study British History (Protest, Agitation and Parliamentary Reform) c. 1780 – 1928 for Paper 3 and will undertake a coursework assignment for Paper 4 of 3,000 – 4,000 words. This will require students to analyse the ways in which historians’ interpretations of events differ, and to evaluate which interpretation they find most persuasive.

All Lower Sixth students will pursue the A Level course which in the first year is comprised of 2 papers with each paper focused on the history of a single country, Russia, 1917-1991 and China, 1949-1976. In the second year all students will study a British History paper based on ‘Protest, Agitation and Parliamentary Reform in Britain, c. 1780 – 1928’ and a coursework assignment (Paper 4), worth 20% of the A Level marks. This requires students to write a 3,000 – 4,000 word assignment based on historian’s interpretations of a historical controversy – Stalin’s role in the purges.

Students will enjoy and do well in History if they have a genuine interest in:

• The world and the history of how it has developed 
• Communicating through speech and writing 
• Analysing and problem solving based on collecting and assessing evidence 
• Planning their own learning 
• Working with others and presenting and defending their interpretations and ideas

A Level History is assessed by four papers:
Lower Sixth:

• Paper 1: The history of a specific country in breadth (30%), Russia, 1917 – 1991.
• Paper 2: The history of Mao’s China, 1949 – 1976 in depth (20%).

Upper Sixth:

• Paper 3: Protest, Agitation and Parliamentary Reform in Britain, c. 1780 – 1928 in breadth and depth (30%).
• Paper 4: Coursework – evaluating historian’s interpretations of a historical controversy – Stalin’s role in the purges (20%).

The exam board for this A Level is Pearson Edexcel.

Course Specific Trips & Visits

The College offers a number of educational experiences each year to enable students to contextualise their learning. These experiences include trips, visiting speakers and residentials. In February 2019 the current History students will be visiting Beijing in China and in October 2019, students will be able to go on a trip to the USA visiting New York and Washington DC.

• Grade 5 in English Language and Grade 5 in History, if taken