History: Key Stage 4

At Key Stage 4 students study the new Edexcel History 9-1. The GCSE consists of three exam papers with the weighting split 30%/40%/30%. The GCSE builds upon the skills that students develop throughout year 7, 8 and 9 whilst preparing them for ‘A’ level courses. As a department we have recently reviewed and amended our schemes of work at KS4 so that students get a fully chronological overview of history which we help with their understanding of the GCSE topics.

The GCSE requires students to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the historical periods and their chronology, through making connections and comparisons between different aspects of the periods, themes and topics studied.

Throughout the course students will be learning to analyse and evaluate the causes and consequences, and changes and developments of historical events and situations. Students will also learn to assess the significance of individuals, events, developments and ideas through the units they study.

Students in History receive 3 lessons a week in both year 10 and 11.

The following shows the breakdown of the units we study throughout Key Stage 4.

Paper 1 – Thematic Study and Historic Environment.

The thematic study requires students to understand change and continuity across a long sweep of history, including the most significant characteristics of different ages from the medieval to modern periods. We look at Medicine in Britain 1250-present. This focuses on what people believed caused illness and disease across the ages, how diseases were treated and prevented in each time era and the roles of individuals, attitudes and science and technology in driving medical change across the ages.

The Historic Environment section is linked to the thematic study and focuses on the site in its historical context. We will be studying the trench environment of the First World War and how this impacted treatment of soldiers and medical developments

Paper 2: (1hour 45 mins)

British depth study(20%) – Anglo-Saxon and Norman England c1060-88

The depth study focuses on a substantial and coherent short time span and requires students to understand the complexity of a society or historical situation.

Period Study (20%) - Superpower relations and the Cold War 1941-1991

The period study focuses on a time span of at least 50 years and requires students to understand the unfolding narrative of substantial developments and issues associated with the period.

Paper 3: Weimar and Nazi Germany 1918-39 (1 hour 20 mins)

This is the modern depth study which focuses on student’s ability to use sources and interpretations to explore a topic.