History

History is unparalleled as a subject in its wealth of controversial debates, fascinating stories and human interest. It is an excellent choice for students who are curious about unfamiliar past societies, who want to tackle interesting puzzles and challenging questions, or who have enjoyed GCSE History. This course will take you towards a deeper understanding of the historical discipline itself. History is about argument: in our classrooms, expect to argue about why events occurred and how much change really happened, to study original sources and to engage in dialogue with historians as they interpret the past.

We are committed to offering a global History curriculum that shines a light on under-represented histories, fascinating and unfamiliar moments of our past, and profoundly important turning points in world history. You will study: African Kingdoms c.1400 c.1800, including the kingdoms of Benin, Dahomey, Kongo, Oyo and Songhay, which for hundreds of years produced exquisite works of art, developed complex governments and empires, and forged connections with Europe, North Africa and the Americas. We ll be exploring why these civilisations rose and fell. Russia and Its Rulers 1855 1964, from Tsarist autocracy in the nineteenth century, through the Russian Revolution of 1917, to the Soviet Union during the early Cold War. We ll be debating how far Russia truly changed across this period. Alfred and the Making of England 871 1016, including the recurring struggle between Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and the Vikings, in a violent process that ended in the development of England and the English. We ll be using sources from the time to investigate why leaders, such as Alfred, were able to survive the Viking threat.

Together with the three examined components above, you will also write an essay on a topic of your choice, giving you an opportunity to explore a period of history that really fascinates you or that you have never studied before, with one-to-one support from the teacher.

5 grade 6s at GCSE. Grade 6 in History GCSE.

History has the potential to open doors to numerous career paths. Our historians will become critical readers, persuasive writers, confident debaters and even independent researchers. As part of the course, you will complete a research project on a topic of your choice, learning invaluable skills in the process. All these skills mean that, as well as going on to study History at university, history students may become journalists, politicians, lawyers, philosophers, researchers, or economists (among many other options).