History

We ensure that the History curriculum is academically challenging and builds the range, depth and security of students’ knowledge over time. We seek to create a positive learning environment, with high quality teaching and learning which promotes enjoyment of the subject.

Students of all academic abilities will develop an understanding of History and work towards their full potential, promoting tolerance of different societies and cultures in the past and present. We seek to enable students to use their understanding of history to participate in society.

We encourage pupils to interact with substantive knowledge, intertwined with disciplinary knowledge, the second order concepts, which direct the questions that historians ask about the past. We promote an awareness of chronological understanding and build upon this to provide pupils with a framework for studying the past. We provide pupils with the opportunity to interact with different interpretations of history, allowing them to understand how and why the past has been analysed in different ways.

Our curriculum is based on enquiry questions and is designed to ensure that students develop higher level thinking skills, such as historical analysis and evaluation. The curriculum design and teaching enable pupils to construct their own historical accounts and arguments.

Politics (Sixth Form Only)

We ensure that the Politics curriculum is academically challenging and builds the range, depth and security of students’ knowledge over time. We seek to create a positive learning environment, with high quality teaching and learning which promotes enjoyment of and active engagement with the subject.

Students of all academic abilities will develop an understanding of Politics and work towards their full potential, promoting tolerance of different ideas and beliefs in the past and present through study and discussion. We seek to enable students to use their understanding of Politics to become active citizens.

We encourage students to interact with substantive knowledge, intertwined with disciplinary knowledge. We encourage students to develop their knowledge and understanding of the philosophical and legal basis of political systems, the historical development of those systems, as well as contemporary political issues, by accessing a range of articles, journals and political works via the print media and online.

Our curriculum is based on evaluatory questions and is designed to ensure that students develop higher level thinking skills, such as political analysis and evaluation. The curriculum design and teaching enable pupils to construct their own views and arguments about contemporary political issues.

Curriculum Summary - History

Key Stage 3

Programme of Study

The History Department aims to provide students with a broad historical understanding and a raft of transferable skills such as enquiry, analysis and communication. History at BUCHS is both popular and successful and challenges students to become independent learners who can apply their skills in later life.

At Key Stage 3, students will develop their historical skills through a range of topics. They will gain an understanding of:

• Historical skills
• The Norman Conquest
• Life in the Medieval Period
• The Tudors and the Stuarts
• The Suffragettes
• Migrants in Britain
• The Civil Rights Movement
• The First and Second World Wars
• The Holocaust

Learning/Teaching Approach

Students will develop the following skills:

• Extended writing which is accurate and relevant to the historical question being asked.
• Essay writing which is well-structured making use of connectives, producing convincing arguments and reaching judgements.
• Debating and using subject knowledge to support an argument.

Assessment

Students will be assessed in a range of skills:
Explanation of causation, use of historical evidence, the ability to assess change and continuity, historical interpretations and historical significance.
 

Key Stage 4

Qualification: GCSE

Awarding Body and Paper: Edexcel GCSE (9-1)

Programme of Study

Paper 1: Thematic study and historic environment (Paper codes: 1HI0/10–12)
13: Migrants in Britain, c800–present and Notting Hill, c1948–c1970.
Paper 2: Period study and British depth study (Paper codes: 1HI0/20–29)
B4: Early Elizabethan England, 1558–88.
26/27: Superpower Relations and the Cold War, 1941–91
Paper 3: Modern depth study (Paper codes: 1HI0/30–33)
31: Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918–39

Learning/Teaching Approach

A wide range of teaching and learning techniques are used including the use of historical sources, political cartoons, DVDs, ICT resources and textbooks. Students undertake independent, paired and group work and focus on debating skills, writing skills and essay technique.

Assessment

• Paper 1: Thematic study and historic environment (Paper codes: 1HI0/10–12) 13: Migrants in Britain, c800–present and Notting Hill, c1948–c1970. Written examination: 1 hour and 15 minutes. 30% of the qualification 52 marks (16 for the historic environment, 36 for the thematic study.)

Assessment overview

• • • Section A: historic environment
      Students answer a question that assesses knowledge plus a two-part question based on two provided sources.
    • Section B: thematic study
      Students answer three questions that assess their knowledge and understanding. The first two questions are compulsory. For the third question, students answer one from a choice of two.
• Paper 2: Period study and British depth study (Paper codes: 1HI0/20–29) B4: Early Elizabethan England, 1558–88. 26/27: Superpower Relations and the Cold War, 1941–91 Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes, 40% of the qualification. 64 marks (32 for the period study and 32 for the British depth study.)
   

Assessment overview

• • • Section A: Period study
      Students answer three questions that assess their knowledge and understanding. The first two questions are compulsory. For the third question, students select two out of three parts.
    • Section B: British depth study
      Students answer a single three-part question that assesses their knowledge and understanding. The first two parts are compulsory. For the third part, students select one from a choice of two.
• Paper 3: Modern depth study (Paper codes: 1HI0/30–33) 31: Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918–39 Written examination: 1 hour and 20 minutes, 30% of the qualification. 52 marks.

Assessment overview

• • • Section A
      Students answer a question based on a provided source and a question that assesses their knowledge and understanding.
    • Section B
      Students answer a single four-part question, based on two provided sources and two provided interpretations.

What it can lead to

History can lead to careers such as journalism, jobs in the media, teaching, business, the civil service and the legal profession. This is due to the raft of skills that History students gain and develop, such as using evidence, analysing key issues, making judgements and debating. These transferable skills are highly desirable in today's job market.

Additional Points

Here are some comments from our current Year 11 History students:

“If you have a curious mind and are eager to learn something exciting, this subject is the one for you! From 16th century Elizabethan society to 20th century political tensions, you learn such an interesting variety of topics, and you always find yourself having conversations expanding on topics beyond the syllabus.” Alice

“For me, history is one of the most important and interesting subjects, because it provides you with expansive knowledge that can help you better understand the past as well as current affairs. My favourite GCSE history topic would have to be the Cold War; it is the most recent time period studied, and I find it fascinating to learn about how significant powerful people’s attitudes were in deciding the fate of each of their countries. I think it also gives an insight into politics.” Millie

“For me, taking history was an easy choice and I would definitely recommend it if you are interested. The amount of variety in the course allows you to explore different points in time... The lessons are engaging and extremely interesting.” Olivia

Tier of Entry

Single Tier

Key Stage 5

Qualification: A Level

Awarding Body and Paper: Edexcel. Route H: Democracies in change: Britain and the USA in the twentieth century.

Programme of Study

Option 2H.2: The USA, 1955–92: conformity and challenge.

Paper 1: Option 1H: Britain transformed, 1918–97.
Paper 2: Option 2H.2: The USA, 1955–92: conformity and challenge.
Paper 3: Option 33: The witch craze in Britain, Europe and North America, c1580–c1750.

Learning/Teaching Approach

A wide range of teaching and learning techniques are used including the use of historical sources, political cartoons, DVDs, ICT resources and textbooks. Students are encouraged to undertake further reading from the Modern History Review magazine, historical articles and a wide range of books. Students undertake independent, paired and group work and focus on debating skills, writing skills and essay technique.

Assessment

Paper 1: Option 1H: Britain transformed, 1918–97. 30% of the qualification.

• • Assessment overview
    The examination lasts 2 hours 15 minutes and is marked out of 60.
    
    ● Section A comprises a choice of two essay questions that assess understanding of the period in breadth.
    ● Section B comprises a choice of two essay questions that assess understanding of the period in breadth.
    ● Section C comprises one compulsory question that assesses the ability to analyse and evaluate interpretations.

Paper 2: Option 2H.2: The USA, 1955–92: conformity and challenge. 20% of the qualification.

Assessment overview
The examination lasts 1 hour 30 minutes and is marked out of 40.

● Section A comprises one compulsory question for the option studied that assesses the ability to analyse and evaluate source material that is primary and/or contemporary to the period.

● Section B comprises a choice of two essay questions that assess understanding of the period in depth.

Paper 3: Option 33: The witch craze in Britain, Europe and North America, c1580–c1750. 30% of the qualification.

Assessment overview

• • • Section A
      Students answer a question based on a provided source and a question that assesses their knowledge and understanding.
    • Section B
      Students answer a single four-part question, based on two provided sources and two provided interpretations.
       

Coursework: Independent enquiry. 20% of the qualification.

● Students carry out an independently-researched enquiry requiring them to analyse and evaluate historical interpretations and to organise and communicate their findings.

● The assignment is set by the centre on a question, problem or issue that has generated disagreement among historians.

What it can lead to

History is regarded highly by universities and employers. A qualification in History shows that an individual can process information, make judgements, weigh up different points of view and express themselves coherently. These qualities are all highly valued in today’s job market. The subject can be relevant to a range of careers including the law, business, journalism, the civil service and banking.   

Additional Points

A comment about A Level History from a Year 13 student:

“I have really enjoyed my experience as an A-Level History student; the excellent teachers within the History Department make the jump between GCSE and A-Level as smooth as possible which benefited both my class and I immensely and provided us with the confidence to make the most of our more independent studies throughout both lockdowns. The efficiency and delivery of our lessons meant that we had covered most of the exam content within school, giving us the opportunity to spend the majority of our online learning revising, placing us in an ideal position for our assessments at the end of Year 13.

Our study of Britain and America throughout the 20^th Century was thought-provoking as was our study of witchcraft in Europe; both of which provided parallels to current affairs, most notably, the persecution of women during the witch-trials of the 16^th and 17^th Centuries and the birth of the Women’s Liberation Movement in the 1960s. Additionally, the support given to my classmates and I throughout the completion of our coursework allowed for a breadth of topics to be studied. I selected the topic 'Women in Nazi Germany' which had stemmed from my fascination of the topic at GCSE.

Overall, my experience of A-Level History at BUCHS has been extremely positive and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the subject at GCSE and is looking for a highly engaging and enjoyable course.” Eve

Curriculum Summary - Politics

Key Stage 5

Qualification: A Level

Awarding Body and Paper: Edexcel Specification code 9PLO

Programme of Study

A Level Politics will introduce students to the British political system. Students will consider contemporary political issues, institutions and ideologies. The course also offers the opportunity to study the government and politics of the USA and compare it to the British System.

Students will complete a study of UK politics and government. The key topics in politics include democracy and participation, political parties, electoral systems, voting behaviour and the role of the media. There will also be a study of the core political ideas of Conservatism, Liberalism and Socialism. Whilst studying the British system of government, students will consider the Constitution, Parliament, the Prime Minister and the Executive. Finally, students will make a comparative study of government and politics in the USA considering the Constitution, Congress, the Presidency, Civil Rights & Democracy and Participation.

Who it will suit

Fascinated by current affairs? Want to understand how our laws are made? Want to make the laws/run the country/ make a difference to people’s lives? Or perhaps you just fancy studying a subject that unfolds on our television screens every night. You must be good at debating – and that does not mean being able to shout louder than everyone else. You must also be able to articulate your ideas well in writing.

Assessment

The course is assessed via three examinations.
Paper 1 – UK Politics (33.3%)
Paper 2 – UK Government (33.3%)
Paper 3 – Comparative Politics (33.3%)

What it can lead to

Politics is a highly respected and rigorous course which has many links to other areas of study. Other pathways include university courses in, Law, International Relations, History, Teaching, Sociology and, of course, Politics.

Additional Points
Politics students have set up and run a Debating Society in the school.  We encourage students of all ages to participate in debates on contemporary political issues which directly affect them.

Many of our students have gone on to study Politics and International Relations, Law and History at University over the past five years.