The History Department at Edmonton County School consists of four full time teachers. The subject is compulsory at KS3 and a popular subject at Key Stage 4 and 5. The department also offers AS and A2 Government and Politics to the Sixth Form.
The department has two specialist teaching rooms on both sites. Its facilities include interactive whiteboards, a large range of text books and videos.
How many lessons do pupils have per week ? 2 lesson in Years 7 and 9 and 2 lessons in year 8.
How are pupils grouped? Pupils in Year 7 and Year 8 are taught in mixed ability groups whilst those in Year 9 are set by ability.
What do pupils learn? Pupils follow a broad based curriculum designed to develop key historical skills. In line with the National Curriculum courses are followed in British History since 1066 and optional units on the Romans and Black History. Pupils have access to their own textbooks for most courses.
Key Stage 4 - Years 10 and 11
Pupils opt for GCSE History at KS4 where we have approximately three groups in both Years 10 and 11. These groups have three single lessons per week.
History
What will I learn?
You will learn about key issues during the twentieth century. You will be faced with questions such as:
- Why did the League of Nations frequently fail to keep peace between the wars?
- How did Hitler challenge and exploit the Treaty of Versailles?
- Why did appeasement fail to prevent the outbreak of war in 1939?
- Why did the USA and USSR become rivals in the period 1945-49?
- How did the Cold War develop in the period 1949-1963?
- How close to war did the world come over Cuba in 1962?
- How did Britain resist and contribute to the defeat of Germany in the Second World War?
- What impact did total war have on the British civilian population during the Second World War?
- How were the Bolsheviks able to seize power in 1917?
- How far did Stalin set up a personal dictatorship in Communist Russia?
- How did the Nazi Party develop up to 1929?
- How did Hitler change Germany from a democracy to a dictatorship, 1933-1934?
What is the structure of the course?
The topics may not run exactly to these timings, for example some work on the Treaty of Versailles may
be completed in Year 10.
Year 10
� Germany 1918-1939
� Russia/USSR 1914-1941
� International Relations 1918-1939 - Topics covered include:
� The Treaty Of Versailles
� Hitler's foreign policy
� Appeasement
Year 11
� Coursework -
� Oswald Mosley and The British Union of Fascists.
� "Was America justified in dropping the atomic bomb"?
� Britain's role in the Second World War on mainland Europe and the Home Front.
� The Cold War 1945 - 1963 - Topics covered include:
� The building of the Berlin Wall
� The Korean War
� The Cuban missile crisis
How will I be assessed?
You will complete two pieces of coursework in Year 11 and have 2 written papers at the end of Year 11.
Paper 1 1 hour 45 minutes 37.5 % of total mark
Paper 2 1 hour 45 minutes 37.5 % of total mark
Coursework - 2 assignments, each weighted at 12.5 % of total mark.
What skills and interests do I need to have?
- The ability to use historical evidence.
- The will to carry out your own research about topics being taught in lessons.
- To be able to write extended answers to questions.
- An ability to analyse the causes and consequences of past events.
- Students with an interest in twentieth century world history.
- Those who enjoy debating controversial issues from the past such as
- "Was America justified in dropping the atomic bomb?"
What courses or employment could I progress to at the end of my course?
Successful completion in this subject at Level 2 (GCSE C or above) will allow you to have a range of
options in 2010. If you wish to progress to a Level 3 (AS/A2, BTEC) in this subject, you are required to
have a minimum of a C grade at Level 2 (GCSE).
GCSE History may be required in a number of training programs, by employers or as an entry requirement for other subjects at advanced level.
Key Stage 5 - Years 12 and 13
Pupils can opt for AS and A2 History at KS5 along with AS and A2 Government and Politics.
AS and A2 History
What will I learn?
AS
Germany
- The Unification of Germany.
- Diplomacy, war and the significance of Bismark to 1871
- The fall of the Second Reich
- The rise of the Third Reich
Britain and Ireland
- The challenge of nationalism in Ireland 1867-85.
- Gladstone's conversion to Home Rule
- The emergence of Sinn Fein and Unionism.
A2
- The role of public opinion in influencing British relations with Hitler and Mussolini
- The Battle of Britain, war in North Africa and the Atlantic
- The Home Front
- The bomber offensive, D-Day and the liberation of Europe.
Who is the course for?
- Students who have an interest in twentieth century world history
- Those who are interested in how Britain developed in the twentieth century
- Students who wish to build on the knowledge they acquired at GCSE about Hitler and Stalin
- Students who enjoy debating and discussing differing ideologies behind dictatorships and totalitarian regimes
What is the structure of the course?
AS Unit 1
This part of the A Level course will build on knowledge acquired at Level 2. Students will study the unification of Germany and how Bismarck went about creating a national identity, in addition, they will look at the rise of the Nazis, the impact that they had on Germany until 1945 and the impact of the Second World War on Germany.
AS Unit 2
Students will study the relationship between Britain and Ireland, 1867-1922. They will cover issues such as the challenge of nationalism, Home Rule objectives and unionist responses to it, divisions within Ireland and the creation of the Irish Free State.
A2 Unit 3
Students will study British policy towards Mussolini and Hitler during peacetime before discovering the role played by Britain during the Second World War in an attempt to end the influence of fascism in Britain. This builds on knowledge gained at Level 2. Students will also look beyond the end of the war and consider the social and economic impact of the Second World
War.
A2 Unit 4
Internal Assessment
How will I be assessed?
Unit 1: Written examination 1 hour 20 minutes.
You will be required to answer 2 questions worth 30 marks each. You will need to present historical explanations and assess their significance in context.
Unit 2: Written examination 1 hour 20 minutes.
You will be required to answer 2 questions. The first question worth 20 marks will focus on you reaching a judgement based on source material given to you. The second question worth 40 marks is based on the sources, but also needs you to use your own knowledge.
Unit 3: Written examination 2hours.
You will have to answer two questions, the first being an essay question that will require an analytical response to a historical event. The second question will be responding to sources, using your own knowledge and the evidence given to you.
Unit 4: Internal assessment.
You will complete two assignments based on a timeframe of 100 years. The focus of one assignment will be the short term impact of a specific person or event, the second a broader assignment based on the whole topic area.
What do I need to know or do before being able to take the course?
- An ability to write essays in timed conditions
- Be able to take focused notes
- Be able to carry out research and investigations on an individual basis
- Be self-motivated so that research can be completed
What courses or employment could I progress to at the end of my course?
As with all Level 3 subjects, successful completion of this course will enable progression onto both further and higher education, a Modern Apprenticeship or employment in a range of industries. History is a valued subject and is viewed very positively by a range of employers and occupational areas as completion of this subject demonstrates analytical and strong written communication skills. Don't just think of journalism and the legal profession, history will be valued by all careers.
A2
- The role of public opinion in influencing British relations with Hitler and Mussolini
- The Battle of Britain, war in North Africa and the Atlantic
- The Home Front
- The bomber offensive, D-Day and the liberation of Europe.
AS and A2 Government and Politics
What will I learn?
AS:
You will learn about the British political system by discussing issues such as:
- To what extent has Gordon Brown continued the policies of Tony Blair; What is Tony Blair's legacy?
- Will we ever have a referendum on the Euro?
- Does Britain still need a monarchy?
- Why and how are laws made?
- Is Labour still a party for the workers?
- Why does Britain have a voting system which prevents most parties from gaining seats in Parliament?
- How do MPs earn their salaries?
- Will the Conservatives return to power?
- How can ordinary people participate in politics?
- Can signing a petition or joining in a demonstration really make a difference?
A2:
You will learn about the American political system and you will compare it to the British political system.
You will discuss issues such as:
- Why do Americans have the right to 'bear arms'?
- Why did George W. Bush win again in 2004?
- Is the electoral system fundamentally flawed?
- Are there any differences between Republicans and Democrats?
- What is the Bill of Rights and why is it so important to Americans?
- How can an Austrian-born body-builder, turned actor become Governor of California?
Of course the issues for both AS and A2 will change according to current affairs!
Who is the course for?
- Students who enjoy the challenge of debates and oral discussions, relevant to society today
- Students who are interested in current affairs
- Students who want to become active citizens
- Students who would like to know about how their country is governed
- Students who have an interest in finding out how the USA differs to Britain
What is the structure of the course?
AS
Unit 1: People and Politics - parties, elections and pressure groups
Unit 2: Governing the UK - Prime Minister and cabinet, the role of MPs, the Houses of Parliament, the
civil service and the Judiciary
A2
Unit 3: Representation in the USA - political parties, pressure groups and elections
Unit 4: Governing the USA - The President,Congress and the Supreme Court
How will I be assessed?
Unit 1 Written examination 1 hour 20 minutes
Unit 2 Written examination 1 hour 20 minutes
Unit 3 Written examination 1 hour 30 minutes
Unit 4 Written examination 1 hour 30 minutes
What do I need to know or do before being able to take the course?
- You must have the ability to be able to carry out research and investigations on an individual basis
- You should have the ability to make detailed notes
- You should be prepared to read daily newspapers and watch the news regularly to keep up-to-date with current issues
- You should have the ability to write essays and short stories.
What courses or employment could I progress to at the end of my course?
As with all Level 3 subjects, successful completion of this course will enable progression onto both further and higher education, a Modern Apprenticeship or employment in a range of industries. Your ability to debate and analyse will be enhanced as a result of studying Government and Politics together with acquiring strong written communication skills which no employer can afford to ignore! EM>
|
