History

Aims

• To explore and appreciate different cultures in the ancient world.
• To study the lives of defining characters in ancient history.
• To analyse key moments in the ancient world like battles and the founding of cities.
• To consider the role of sources and archaeology in identifying fact from myth.

Students study the following elements of the OCR GCSE:

• The Persian Empire, 559-456 BC looking at the empire under Cyrus the Great, Cambyses II, Darius I and Xerxes I.
• Alexander the Great, 356-323 BC looking at Alexander’s life, beliefs, military campaigns and leadership of the Macedonian army.
• The Foundations of Rome: from Kingship to republic, 753-440 BC looking at the kings of Rome and the early Roman Republic, with an emphasis on the most exciting and interesting characters.
• Cleopatra: Rome and Egypt, 69-30 BC looking at Cleopatra life, reign as queen of Egypt, relationships with Caesar and Mark Anthony and the Battle of Actium.        

Examination

OCR Ancient History GCSE:

• Paper 1 - 2hr  – Greece and Persia (including the Persian Empire and Alexander the Great) 50%
• Paper 2 - 2hr  – Rome and its neighbours (including The Foundations of Rome and Cleopatra) 50%

Ancient History is only available as a two-year GCSE course.

Aims

• To develop knowledge and understanding of the most important people, events and ideas that shaped the world in which we live.
• To develop skills in finding, comparing and analysing information, contained in a variety of sources: photographs, letters, cartoons, maps, newspapers, textbooks, IT databases, etc.  These are vital skills applicable to any job and an excellent basis for further study in any subject.
• To develop a flexible mind, able to understand how human affairs are shaped by the interaction of many different ideas and situations.
• To appreciate how people in the past felt about the situations which faced them, and how this was similar to, or different from, our reactions now.  This develops skill in appreciating the many different viewpoints held by people today in our complex and rapidly changing society.

Students study the following elements of the EDEXCEL GCSE.

• Medicine and The British Sector of the Western Front 1914-18 Surgery and Treatment. (looking at ideas about causes of illness, and treatments over time).
• The Cold War 1945-91 and Henry VIII and his Ministers (Wolsey and Cromwell)1509-1540
• The USA 1954-1975: Conflict at Home and Abroad (Civil Rights and the Vietnam War)

This course allows students to study a range of topics, in a variety of ways which use and develop individual talents and aptitudes.  Study methods include the use of maps, charts, diagrams, photography, letters, diaries, cartoons, newspapers, IT databases, videos etc

Examination

EDEXCEL History: 

• Paper 1 - 1hr 20m - Medicine and Surgery  30%
• Paper 2 - 1 hr 50m – Cold War and Henry VIII  40%
• Paper 3 - 1 hr 30m – USA  30%

The Modern History GCSE is taught as a one year option or a two-year GCSE course, students can choose between this and the Ancient History GCSE.