In this course, students are prepared for Edexcel GCSE History (1HI0). The following five units are studied sequentially across Years 10 and 11.
| Unit | Content |
|---|---|
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Unit 1 Medicine |
Medicine in Britain, c1250–present This unit focuses on change and continuity in medicine in Britain. Students study medicine in the Medieval era, when the Church dominated ideas, and then reflect on how people began to question tradition in the Renaissance. Next, students examine the discoveries that occurred during the Industrial Revolution, and finally they learn about the dramatic improvements in medicine in the modern era. Throughout the unit, students examine the role played by individuals, such as William Harvey and Louis Pasteur, and the importance of factors such as technology and institutions in helping or hindering change. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Learning is assessed formatively through the use of student booklets and homework tasks. In the Year 10 February assessments, students' knowledge of the topic is assessed, as well as their ability to explain their ideas in extended writing. Students then complete a mock exam in the summer of Year 10, which contributes towards students’ final predicted grade. Students then return to the unit as part of their Year 11 revision. |
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Unit 2 |
Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060–1088 This unit is a 'depth study', examining the politics, economy and society of Anglo-Saxon England, the Norman conquest of 1066, the subsequent rebellions, and the nature of society and government in Norman England. For instance, students explore the strength of the competing claims to the throne in 1066, and the battles fought by famous warriors, such as the Battle of Hastings. They study the motivations behind different rebellions, and the brutal methods used to repress these, such as William's Harrying of the North, which saw the death of approximately 100,000 people. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Learning is assessed formatively through the use of student booklets and homework tasks. Students complete a mock exam in the summer of Year 10, which contributes towards their final predicted grade. Students then return to the unit as part of their Year 11 revision. |
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Unit 3 Trenches |
The British sector of the Western Front, 1914–18: injuries, treatment and the trenches This unit investigates a particular historic environment, namely the British sector of the Western Front during the First World War. Students learn about famous sites, such as Ypres and the Somme, and examine the relationship between the trench conditions and illnesses, injuries and medicine. The trench system, for instance, made safe evacuation of the wounded very challenging, while the high number of casualties with facial and brain injuries led to rapid developments in plastic and brain surgery. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Learning is assessed formatively through the use of student booklets and homework tasks. Students complete a mock exam in the summer of Year 10, which contributes towards their final predicted grade. Students then return to the unit as part of their Year 11 revision. |
| Unit 4 Germany |
Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918–1939 This unit is a 'depth study', examining the dramatic changes in Germany between the First and Second World Wars. Students study the vibrant culture and society, and democratic politics, of the Weimar Republic. They consider why it was able to survive the challenges it faced in the 1920s. Students then investigate the development of the Nazi party, and its eventual rise to power following the Great Depression, which led to Hitler establishing himself as dictator in 1934. Students conclude by examining life in Hitler's Germany, for instance considering the roles played by terror and propaganda in controlling the population. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Learning is assessed formatively through the use of student booklets and homework tasks. Students complete a mock exam in the winter of Year 11, which contributes towards their final predicted grade. Students then return to the unit as part of their Year 11 revision. |
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Unit 5 American West |
The American West, c1835–c1895 This unit is a 'period study', looking at change across several decades. Students explore how the United States expanded westwards over the 19th century, and the impact that this had on the lives of Plains Indians. Students explore the challenges faced by early pioneers, and the problems of lawlessness in early settlements. They investigate what life was like for cowboys, and how ranching developed on the Plains. They study the conflicts fought between the USA and the Plains Indians for control of the Plains, and consider how the Plains Indians' way of life was increasingly destroyed. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Learning is assessed formatively through the use of student booklets, homework tasks and in-class assessments. Students then return to the unit as part of their Year 11 revision. |
