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History

“Those who fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it.”  Winston Churchill.

The history department seeks to foster a lifelong passion for history in our pupils.  History is filled with exciting mysteries, death and diseases, tales of mankind’s courage and determination, which are often stranger than fiction.  We aim to ensure that our pupils develop the skills to understand the past so that they can make sense of the changing world around them.

The study of history also enables pupils to develop important ‘transferable skills’.  The discipline of essay writing and source analysis encourages pupils to construct relevant, coherent, well-reasoned arguments and judgements, which are important cross-curricular / life skills.  Our history department has a wealth of artefacts and film resources that, together with our enthusiastic teaching staff, help to bring the subject to life.

Subject Leader: Ms T Coleman (theresa.coleman@swale.at)

Key stage 3 history 

“History is interesting, you get to do cool projects and learn about life before you were born.”

“I chose history to help my English grade and it’s interesting.”

“Pupils should choose to study history because you get to learn a lot about the past and every lesson you always learn something new (and the teachers are nice).”

We aim to take our pupils on a broad, chronological journey through British history.  Beginning with early invaders, the course covers aspects of medieval, early modern and modern history up to the end of the Second World War.  Foreign case studies include the French Revolution, the North Atlantic Slave Trade and Civil Rights in the USA. 

Useful web links or books:

Key stage 4 history

“GCSE history is hard work but enjoyable, interesting and fun.”

“History is a subject that you have to work hard for, but it’s worth the effort!  History is very interesting and is a great GCSE to have, as it opens many doors when you’ve finished school.”

“History is a subject you get excited for, as it’s so interesting learning about what your country was once like.  You always leave history with a smile on your face.”

“Pupils should study GCSE history because it helps you with knowing how to structure answers, with full explanation and evidence.” 

GCSE qualification.

GCSE history is a popular option subject and our pupils study the Edexcel GCSE History (9-1).  The pupils’ success is achieved by sitting three examination papers; there is no longer a controlled assessment element. 

  • Paper 1 is worth 30% of the available marks combines a thematic study and historic environment: Medicine in Britain, c1250-present and The British sector of the Western Front, 1914-18: injuries, treatment and the trenches. 
  • Paper 2 is worth 40% of the available marks and is a combination of a Period Study and British Depth Study. The Period Study is British America, 1713-1783. The British Depth Study is Henry VIII and his ministers, 1509-1540.
  • Paper 3 is worth 30% of the available marks is a modern depth study: Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918-39.
  • Our pupils will sit all three examination papers at the end of Year 11.
  • The GCSE programme of study will take a largely chronological approach.

Year 10:

  1. Henry VIII and his ministers, 1509-1540,
  2. Medicine in Britain, c1250-present
  3. Weimar and Nazi Germany 1919-39. 

   Year 11:

  1. Weimar and Nazi Germany 1919-39 continued
  2. British America, 1713-1783
  3. Revision

Useful web links or books:

Key stage 5 history

“I love learning history, it’s fun and enjoyable but sometimes having lots of coursework is hard.”

“History should be taken at A-level at TWS for its challenging nature.  It gives the opportunity to not only improve your history skills but also analytical skills that can be used elsewhere.  I also find it a highly enjoyable lesson with a fantastic teacher who is highly capable of producing high grades from all her pupils.”

A-level qualification.

Our pupils follow the OCR history A specification (H505).  This is an interesting and stimulating two year course, which at A2 allows the pupils to produce an independent study of their choice - vital preparation for university.  The pupils sit all three examination papers at the end of Year 13.    

Year 12:

  • Unit group 1: British period study and enquiry, worth 25% of the available marks.  Y105: England 1445-1509: Lancastrians, Yorkists and Henry VII (Enquiry topic: Wars of the Roses, 1445-1461)
  • Unit group 2: Non-British period study, worth 15% of the available marks. 

Y221: Democracy and Dictatorship in Germany, 1919-1963, which builds on the pupils’ GCSE study of Germany. 

  Year 13:

  • Unit group 3: Thematic study and historical interpretations, worth 40% of the available marks.  Y306: Rebellion and Disorder under the Tudors, 1485-1603. 
  • Unit Y100: Topic based essay, worth 20% of the available marks.  Pupils will complete a 3000-4000 word essay on a topic of their choice, which may arise out of content studied elsewhere in the course.  This is an internally assessed unit. 

Useful web links or books: