History A Level

“History is written by the victors”. At A Level we look events and people from a variety of different perspectives to develop an in-depth understanding of Britain and the USA in the Twentieth Century, as well as Tudor England.

How will I learn?

A wide range of methods including seminars, tutorials, individual research, debate, source analysis and essay writing. Where possible we make visits to appropriate sites are arranged eg. Hampton Court Palace, Sussex University, Berlin and New York and Washington.

Is History for me?

If you enjoy reading, thinking and talking about people and events in the past, you are interested in History, In addition, if you can write about ideas, develop an argument, giving evidence to support and justify a decision, then you have the skills to be successful at A Level History.

The course covers two units:

The Tudors: England 1485-1603.

In this unit you will study arguably the most significant period in British History, examining aspects of Tudor society alongside the fascinating intrigue of the Tudor monarchs. From beheadings to burnings to tennis and fashion, this unit has it all.

The American Dream: Reality and Illusion 1945-1980.

This unit covers a range of US history, from the dropping of the first atomic bomb in 1945 to the election of a movie star as President in 1980. You will investigate and debate questions of domestic and international politics, as well as the civil rights movement, feminist campaigns and the Vietnam War.

How will I be assessed?

The course covers 2 examined units:

The Tudors: England 1485-1603

The American Dream: Reality and Illusion 1945-1980.

These exams will be taken in May/June

A personal study will also be covered, this is an extended piece of writing focusing on an aspect of post-war British society.

GCSE grade 5 in a humanities subject, history, geography or sociology