IB History

Applications Open - 12 November 2025

Applications Close - 12 April 2026

Entry Requirements - All entry requirements can be found in our course directory here.

How to Apply - To apply for Post-16 at Sir Geoffrey Leigh Academy, please follow the link to Applicca, our admissions registration form: https://sgla.applicaa.com/inyear

Subject Aims:

- Encourage the systematic and critical study of: human experience and behaviour; physical, economic and social environments; the history and development of social and cultural institutions

- Develop in the student the capacity to identify, to analyse critically and to evaluate theories, concepts and arguments about the nature and activities of the individual and society

- Enable the student to collect, describe and analyse data used in studies of society, to test hypotheses and interpret complex data and source material

- Promote the appreciation of the way in which learning is relevant to both the culture in which the student lives and the culture of other societies

- Develop an awareness in the student that human attitudes and opinions are widely diverse and that a study of society requires an appreciation of such diversity

- Enable the student to recognize that the content and methodologies of the subject are contestable and that their study requires the toleration of uncertainty

- Develop an understanding of, and continuing interest in, the past

- Encourage students to engage with multiple perspectives and to appreciate the complex nature of historical concepts, issues, events and developments

- Promote international-mindedness through the study of history from more than one region of the world

- Develop an understanding of history as a discipline and to develop historical consciousness including a sense of chronology and context, and an understanding of different historical perspectives

- Develop key historical skills, including engaging effectively with sources

- Increase students’ understanding of themselves and of contemporary society by encouraging reflection on the past.

Course Content:

One prescribed subject from:

1. Military leaders

2. Conquest and its impact

3. The move to global war

4. Rights and protest

5. Conflict and intervention

Two world history topics from:

1. Society and economy (750–1400)

2. Causes and effects of wars (750–1500)

3. Dynasties and rulers (750–1500)

4. Societies in transition (1400–1700)

5. Early Modern states (1450–1789)

6. Causes and effects of Early Modern wars (1500–1750)

7. Origins, development and impact of industrialization (1750–2005)

8. Independence movements (1800–2000)

9. Emergence and development of democratic states (1848–2000)

10. Authoritarian states (20th century)

11. Causes and effects of 20th-century wars

12. The Cold War: Superpower tensions and rivalries (20th century)

One depth study from:

1. History of Africa and the Middle East

2. History of the Americas

3. History of Asia and Oceania

4. History of Europe

One internal assessment: Historical Investigation

Assessment Objectives:

Knowledge and understanding (• Demonstrate detailed, relevant and accurate historical knowledge. • Demonstrate understanding of historical concepts and context. • Demonstrate understanding of historical sources)

Application and analysis (• Formulate clear and coherent arguments. • Use relevant historical knowledge to effectively support analysis. • Analyse and interpret a variety of sources)

Synthesis and evaluation (• Integrate evidence and analysis to produce a coherent response. • Evaluate different perspectives on historical issues and events, and integrate this evaluation effectively into a response. • Evaluate sources as historical evidence, recognizing their value and limitations)

Use and application of appropriate skills (• Structure and develop focused essays that respond effectively to the demands of a question. • Reflect on the methods used by, and challenges facing, the historian • Formulate an appropriate, focused question to guide a historical inquiry • Demonstrate evidence of research skills, organisation, referencing and selection of appropriate sources)

AS Level (Year 1)

• Paper 1 - Britain transformed, 1918-74,
• Paper 2 - The USA, c1920-55: boom, bust and recovery,

A2 Level (Year 2)

Paper 1 - Britain transformed, 1918-97 74,

Paper 2 - The USA, c1920-55: boom, bust and recovery,

Paper 3 - The witch craze in Britain, Europe and North America, c1580-c1750

Written examination and coursework

• 5+ GCSE 9-4 grades
• Grade 5 in English Language or Literature
• Grade 6 in History

This course will prepare you for an Undergraduate degree course at University.

Careers could include:

• Historian
• Museum Curator
• Politician
• Lawyer
• Solicitor
• Teacher
• Senior Business Leader