A Level History

This very well respected A Level gives students the opportunity to study British and American history, two countries with extremely rich and fascinating histories.

For students who progress from our GCSE history course, the British depth unit has a familiar world context as it is set in the controversial period following the Second World War and charts the recent history of Britain.  The breadth unit gives students the opportunity to study how a country such as America develops from a newly independent nation to one of the world's leading superpowers.  We follow America from Reconstruction after the Civil War through to America’s influence as a world power in the Cold War and its continuing development of social policies up to 1975.  Key questions will be addressed such as How did government, political authority and political parties change and develop? How did the role of the USA in world affairs change in Europe and the Far East? How important were ideas and ideology such as capitalism and communism? How important was the role of key individuals such as FDR and JFK and groups such as women and African Americans and how were they affected by developments?

 A Level coursework includes an extended essay on the causes of rebellions against the Tudor monarchs, from dynastic plots to overthrow Henry VII, to religious violence against Henry VIII’s reformation.  This unit is highly valued by universities and takes the format of a mini-dissertation; students write and research their own enquiry.  The range of work and approaches include source work, role-play, video, concept mapping, discussion, debate, and presentations. 

Uplands’ A Level historians have gone on to study a very broad range of degrees and work in a variety of different occupations.  Notable historians include Lord Sainsbury; the chairman of Barclays Bank; the chairman of Sony; the CEO of Railtrack; Michael Palin; Ed Norton; Jonathan Ross; Al Murray; Sacha Baron Cohen and Lord Sebastian Coe. 

Year 12 content and assessment focus: 

Unit 1 (written examination: interpretations and a study in issues of change, continuity, cause, and consequence).  The Making of A SuperPower: USA 1865-1975

Unit 2 (written examination: using primary sources and a study of major change in depth, focusing on key ideas, events, and developments).  The Making of Modern Britain: 1951-1979 Building a New Britain. 

A Level: 

Unit 1 continued (written examination: interpretations and a study in issues of change, continuity, cause, and consequence).  The Making of A SuperPower: USA 1865-1975. 40% of total A Level.

Unit 2 continued (written examination: using primary sources and a study of major change in depth, focusing on key ideas, events, and developments).  The Making of Modern Britain: 1979-2007.  Impact of Thatcherism to New Labour.  40% of total A Level. 

Unit 3 (coursework: 3000-3500 words.  Internally assessed).  ?’  20% of total A Level. 

Assessment 

Five GCSE's at grade 5 or above including Grade 6 in History and Grade 5 in GCSE English

*Students with a secure grade five in this subject may be considered for the A Level course, on a case by case basis and subject to availability of places.