History

Course summary

We follow the AQA syllabus. Students have to study the History of more than one country and over 200 years of History must be covered in the course. There will be a study in breadth (history over time) and a study in depth (a shorter period of history). 20% of the course must be British history. There will also be a piece of coursework that takes the form of a personal investigation into the causes of the February Revolution in 1917 in Russia. This should not exceed 4500 words. History A-Level is a well-established course with a fine tradition of academic success. History results have consistently been very good and some of the best in the country. Many students have gone on to study the subject in British universities. The course is structured in a way that allows students to develop a wide range of skills including independent analysis, the ability to debate, and how to evaluate. These are all skills that can be used in a variety of courses and careers. Historians are good at accumulating information and dealing with words – traditionally these skills have been important in the civil service, local government, and other public bodies. The subject is also useful for those interested in politics, journalism, publishing, and the media. Increasingly, however, historians are making successful careers in business, industry, accountancy, banking and insurance. Employers and universities value the skills you gain through the study of History A-level.