History GCSE

The Spanish philosopher Santayana remarked, ‘those who ignore history are doomed to repeat its mistakes’

Some people might be tempted to say that it is wrong to waste time on the past BUT:

How can you make sense of the present unless you have a good understanding of the past?
How can we change the world if we do not know how it got into its present state?
How can we take part in a system without knowing how it works?
A person without a past is a person without identity. Appreciating the background of others can help us to improve ‘today’.

Course Content

Our course covers the Modern World and deals with some of the main events of the 20th century.

In GCSE HISTORY we aim to:

• Investigate historical events, people and changes
• Develop an understanding of the ways in which the past has been represented and interpreted
• Use historical sources more effectively
• Reach conclusions but also appreciate that certain issues can be reassessed
• Promote greater awareness of the world our pupils live in.

Content

Paper One: Study in Depth
Germany 1919-41
The focus of this study is on Germany after World War One and how the difficulties faced by the Weimar Government contributed to the rise of Hitler. Students also study in relative depth the fascinating nature of government in Nazi Germany and discover how Hitler’s foreign ambitions triggered a Second World War.
Britain, Northern Ireland and Eire 1932-1949
This study examines the relationships between Britain, Northern Ireland and Eire ‘before, during and after the Second World War’ with particular emphasis on the home front in Northern Ireland.

Paper Two: An Outline Study
Superpower Relations 1945-1991
This broad approach sweeps through the ‘post war years’ by looking at the relations between the USA and the USSR. Students are encouraged to examine the modern world by looking at some of the most significant events, personalities and developments that made up the COLD WAR during these years e.g. Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam War, collapse of Communism.

Coursework (20% of total marks)
Pupils are required to submit one structured assignment of approximately 2000 words. In Strathearn this is designed to extend their study of Nazi Germany and to allow pupils to make use of a variety of controversial materials.

Methods of Work

Pupils will be taught by a variety of methods and with a great range of written and visual sources. Pupils will be directed with class material and guidance from their teachers but will also benefit from increased expectations around responsibility for learning and good presentation of work. These periods are well documented with archive film and frequently supported and re-visited by mainstream television. Accuracy remains important but the relevance of information selected becomes increasingly significant. Many answers will be of a short, structured nature but there is also an element of extended writing, which will help students preserve this skill.

And the value?

Employers who see that you have a qualification in history know that you possess certain useful and relevant skills such as:

• You can understand how people think
• You are able to gather and read different kinds of information
• You are able to look carefully at this information and can check it for bias
• You can read maps, graphs and other diagrams
• You are able to communicate clearly on paper.
• You are able to see all sides of a question and still answer it.

History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.