Lower 6th Form Curriculum

History

Syllabus Followed: OCR
Entry Requirements: Grade B in GCSE History

Pupils who choose History as one of their AS Level courses normally do so because they enjoy the subject and have a natural curiosity about the past. The study of history is both interesting and intellectually rigorous. It develops the skills of research, assimilation, comprehension and the analysis of a wide range of material, formulation of a reasoned interpretation and the development of an ability to communicate clear and coherent judgement. Consequently, historians are to be found in a wide range of professions because of the general intellectual training the subject offers.

The AS course comprises three units. These are comprised of two Modern European units and one English History unit.

The two European units are

1. Mussolini and Italian Fascism: a study of the origins of fascism and its development in Italy under the dictator Mussolini. This paper leads to a 1 hour exam comprising one two-part structured essay.
2. The Nazi State 1933-45: an examination of the Third Reich, covering the establishment of Nazi rule and the impact of Nazi influence in Germany. This is a document-based study leading to a 1 hour 15 min exam.

The English unit will be either

3. (a) The origins and development of the Conservative Party in the nineteenth century and Disraeli’s role in shaping its ideology
   or
   (b) The Relationship between Henry VIII and Wolsey and the political dynamics of the Tudor Monarchy.

Both papers lead to a 1 hour exam comprising one two-part structured essay. The English unit you take depends on which set you are in; one set takes 3(a) and the other takes 3(b). The set you are put in will depend largely on your other AS subject choices and on how they can be timetabled. It is therefore not possible to guarantee which of these two units you will be taking.

The A2 Course (Upper Sixth) comprises

Two modular exams - one European and one English - plus a coursework unit, making a total of three units.

4. The European Paper is a study of Lenin and the Establishment of Bolshevik Power in Russia 1903-1924 leading to a 1 hr 30 min exam comprising two questions: one structured question and one essay question.
5. The English Paper is a thematic study covering 100 years of history and will be either:
   (a) Rebellion and Disorder in England 1485-1603
   or
   (b) The Development of Democracy in Britain 1868-1992.

Both papers lead to a 1 hr 30 min exam comprising two essays. As in the Lower Sixth, it is not usually possible to guarantee in advance which of these options will be available to you as that depends on the setting arrangements, which are largely determined by your other A2 subject choices.

6. The Coursework unit involves an extended essay of approximately 3000 words on a subject of the students’ choice. The Department will offer a number of research topics – all of which are fully resourced – but students can opt for their own choice of topic.

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