History

What will I study?

As we are ' Cromwell Community College', we focus on Oliver Cromwell and the English Civil War. To provide both a parallel and a contrast to the dictatorship of Oliver Cromwell, we also look at the dictators of the twentieth century.

How will I study?

You will have two history teachers, one of whom is a specialist in seventeenth century British History and one of whom is a specialist in twentieth century European history.

As with Key Stage 3 (Years 7 to 9) and GCSE, the AS/A2 course is structured around a series of stimulating, over-arching key questions that hook students into the topics while providing a genuine learning focus. Each Key Question leads to a significant outcome that is related directly to the demands of the exam. Teaching and learning in the classroom involve a range of activities that appeal to different learning styles, be those visual, auditory or kinaesthetic. In addition to more traditional (and necessary) approaches such as systematic note–taking, we also very much engage students in debate, group-work, independent research projects, group presentations using powerpoint, card-sorting activities, and role-play (for example, hot-seating Charles I). We use the latest 'Assessment for Learning' techniques so that our students to know exactly what they need to do in order to get better at history at AS and A2 levels.

An example of some of the over-arching 'Key Questions' for the English Civil War section of the AS Level are as follows:

• Was James I to blame for the English Civil War?
• Why did Charles I resort to personal rule in 1629?
• Is it appropriate to describe the period 1629 to 1640 as the 'Eleven Years' Tyranny'?
• Why did civil war break out in 1642?
• Why did Parliament win the First Civil War?

How will I be assessed?

At AS, you will take two 45-minute essay papers which count as 30% each. You will also carry out a document study which counts as 40%. At A2, you will take an historical investigation paper which counts as 30% and an historical themes paper which counts as 40%. You will also be expected to submit coursework of around 2,500 words in length.

Interspersed throughout the course are lessons that focus and refocus on the Key Question: 'What makes a good A-Level essay' so that students have the frequent opportunity to reflect on effective writing techniques and good structuring, among other things. It is always our intention that students, when sitting their A-Level exams, are confident and fully equipped with the academic tools for success, which they have refined and developed over the period of the course.

Are there any t rips and visits?

Yes. In year 12, you will attend one of the sixth form study days on the English Civil War at the National Army Museum in London. In year 12, you will be taken to the Public Records Office at Kew to hunt down documents for your coursework. If sufficient students opt for A Level History, we will also be running a trip to Russia in order to help with your study of Russian dictatorship.

Careers and future opportunities.

Professions highly favoured by historians include law, the civil service and the media. A Level History, however, equips you with a range of transferable skills that can be of use in any line of work. Amongst the transferable skills that you will be developing are the ability to empathise with other human beings, the ability to analyse a wide range of evidence, the ability to formulate an argument and the ability to undertake research.

Who to contact for more information.

Any of the history team. That is Mr Bennett, Miss Galilee and Mr Horley