History

Course summary

“Why is it necessary for me to die?” The last words of Nikolai Bukharin in a 1938 letter to Stalin shortly before he was shot. “No-one intends to build a Wall.” The words of East German leader Walter Ulbricht shortly before he gave the order to begin construction of the Berlin Wall, trapping East Berliners in a gigantic prison from which even to attempt escape (known as “Flight from the Republic”) was considered a serious crime. The great purges and the Berlin Wall: these are 2 of the highest profile examples of the impact of Communist states on the lives and freedoms of their citizens that dominate the Year 12 A level History curriculum. Studying A level History equips you with the tools to make sophisticated judgements, develop an enquiring mindset and not simply to accept facts at face value. Skills like this will enable you to thrive at university (many of our students have gone on to study history and related subjects like politics and law, for which this course is excellent preparation) and are highly prized by employers.