History A Level 3

Applications Open: - 8th October 2025

Applications Close:- 20th August 2026

How to Apply: - Please contact The Skinners’ School directly to apply. We do not accept applications via KentChoices

Please see here for more information about our Sixth Form and to complete an application form.

The study of History is not just the study of the past but also of the creation of the present. Here at Skinners we have created a History courses that we feel will prepare you well not just for university and your future career, but for life in general. It will help you to develop a more complete understand of the subject and the world around you, while also providing you with the answers to some of questions you might have about the state of the world today.

The History curriculum has been designed for all students that enjoy history. If you want to go on and study history further than A-level this course offers a wide ranging, multinational and cultural course that will appeal to the very top universities. However, if you are a more casual Historian who merely wants to study the subject because you enjoy it, the wide range of nations and topics we study will enable you to gain a wider understanding of the subject in general.

Unit 1 (Year 12) - Russia 1917-91: from Lenin to Yeltsin

From the dreams of the Bolshevik revolutionaries in 1917 to the collapse of the world’s first Communist state under in 1991, this course charts the rise and fall of the Soviet Union. Examining the events of the Russian Revolutions of 1917, the rise of Russia as a world power under Statin, and its ideological clashes with the USA during the Cold War, you will study the various reasons for the establishment of the Soviet Union, its rise to Superpower status and how and why it collapsed after just 75 years. From key figures such as Lenin, Stalin, Khrushchev and Gorbachev to key events such as the First and Second World Wars, the Russian Civil War, the death of Stalin and the reforms of Gorbachev you will learn the story of how, despite immense efforts, the so called ‘paradise’ of the Soviet Union ultimately failed.

Unit 2 (Year 12) – Mao’s China, 1949-76

The changes China experienced between 1949 and 1976 have had a remarkable impact, not just on the country itself, but on the rest of the world as well. In this course you will examine how, under Mao Zedong and the Communists, China was transformed from a weak, divided and underdeveloped country in to the global Superpower it remains todays. You will learn the highs and lows of this tumultuous period and how development was achieved with an industrial revolution that completely disregarded the rights of its citizens, a political system that terrorised opponents and an agricultural policy that led to the death of an estimated 30 million people. The history of modern China is one of triumph and tragedy; this course will chart the history of this key period of Asian and World History.

Unit 3 (Year 13) – The British Empire 1763-1914

This unit charts the decline of British influence in America and the subsequent building of a worldwide Empire. It involves case studies on the American War of Independence, the settlement of Australia,

British control of Canada, the Indian Mutiny and the British takeover of Egypt and the Sudan. Along with this you will explore the changing nature of British trade across the period, focusing on issues such as the Abolition of the Slave Trade and the continued search for new markets; and the role of the British Navy, looking at key events and conflicts, such as the Seven Years War and the Napoleonic Wars. This course enables you to see how and why the British went from being a small trading nation on the edge of Europe to one of the world’s leading powers by the eve of the First World War.

Germany 1933-45: World War II, Nazi Control and the Holocaust

This coursework unit builds on from the work you did at GCSE and involves an independent study into Nazi Germany and the Holocaust. You will be taught a broad overview of the period 1933-45, including the escalation of the Final Solution and relevant controversies surrounding the Holocaust, an examination of how the Nazi regime used Propaganda, consent of the people and coercion to maintain control and whether Hitler was a strong or weak dictator. You will then have the choice of exploring one these areas further in more depth. Although a range of coursework questions will be provided for you there is also scope for you to model your own investigation outside of the three main areas covered should you wish.

Normally each Sixth Form group is taught by two members of staff, who divide the units and the teaching time between them. However, there may be some cross over between teachers teaching the various units meaning some students will be taught by three or even four teachers over the course of their two years of study.

Extra-curricular opportunities: There will be the opportunity for all pupils to participate in a number of external lectures and visits to appropriate historical sites including a residential trip to Germany in Year 13 as part of the Coursework unit.

Those who have taken History at GCSE should have obtained at least a level 7 grade. However, the department is willing to consider candidates who did not take GCSE History or those who fail to achieve this grade

You could take this course with other advanced level courses or equivalent to prepare for higher education in History or related subjects such as English, American Studies, Politics , Archaeology or more general courses. With further training, you could go into a job related to history by seeking employment in areas of heritage such as working for a museum or within education such as a teacher. The course will also help you develop the skills, understanding and knowledge that many employers across lots of industries are looking for.