History Year 10 Options
Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9 - 1) in History
Course Content - What will you be studying?
Students will be studying four different topics over the course of year 10 and 11. In year 10 students will be completing a thematic study of Medicine through time starting in the middle ages (1250) and following the topic all the way through to the present day. This will include examining and comparing medical practices between the ages. As part of medicine through time there is a historical environment study of medicine in the trenches during World War One - 1914-1918.
Secondly students will study the relationship between the USA and the USSR during the Cold War as part of the Superpower relations course. This is a period study that focuses on an important period of history and the changes that happened during that time. Starting with the beginning of the Cold War immediately after World War Two through to the collapse of the USSR and the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Thirdly students will be investigating the reign of Elizabeth I between 1558 and 1588. This will include Elizabethan society and how the people lived, the threats faced by Elizabeth and her government and finally the exploration of the New World.
In Year 11 students will complete a modern depth study as their final unit of study. The depth studies focus on a substantial and coherent short time span and require students to understand the complexity of a society or historical situation and the interplay of different aspects within it. Depending on the depth study chosen, these may include social, economic, political, cultural and military aspects. The depth study portion will either be the USA between 1954 and 1975 or Germany between 1918 and 1939.
Assessment weighting - Exams / Coursework
100% exam based assessment comprised of -
- 30% Thematic study (Medicine) - 1Hr 15 exam
- 40% Period study and depth study (Superpowers and Elizabethans) - 1Hr 45 Exam
- 30% Modern depth study (USA or Germany) - 1Hr 20 Exam
Who is this course aimed at?
This course is part of the EBacc pathway that schools are measured against. It is heavy on literacy skills where written communication is key. There is a lot of factual recall/knowledge applied. If you are interested in the past and why events happened then this History course is for you.
Head of Subject
James Newman jnewman@millbayacademy.orgOpportunities for extracurricular and enrichment activities include:
There will be opportunities to learn and experience beyond the classrooms. There will be signposting to what historical programmes there are on television that week. There will be access to various history magazines and books that the department has. In addition, there will be online resources recommended and BBC Bitesize to support the learning taking place in lessons. It is our intention to develop an historical society to support and further deepen students’ knowledge and understanding of the big ideas and controversies of the past. We hope you will join us in our journey into the past.
Possible careers opportunities
A GCSE in History is valued by both employers and post-16 educational establishments. It reflects a willingness to work and study hard. It shows that you have good oral and written communication skills, that you can put forward a logical argument and develop critical thinking. That you can condense and expand facts and ideas and that you can use different sources to reach supported assessments/judgements.
Careers that can come from the study of History include teaching, journalism, working in local government and the civil service and these are just for starters. Examples being former Prime Ministers such as Gordon Brown and Boris Johnson that studied history at university.