THE ECCLESBOURNE SCHOOL

Key Stage 3   |    Key Stage 4   |    Key Stage 5

 Exam Board: OCR

Contact: Mr J. Cuthbert

Course Overview

The Ecclesbourne History Department believe that history has the power to unlock your understanding of the world you live in now and even predict the future, judge the present and be the change you want to see in the world by analysing what has gone before to understand the modern world. After the tumultuous events of the last ten years: election and relection of Donald Trump, the vote for Brexit, the coronavirus pandemic, and the ongoing political polarisation, history stands as a bridge between what has happened with what can still be changed today. Our study of history is alive to the idea of making it relevant and powerful to be used by our students in becoming citizens of Britain and of the world.

At A Level, students will have the opportunity to study British history exploring Anglo-Saxon England and the Norman Conquest (1035-1107), analysing the profound upheaval that arose from the Norman conquest as well as learning how to analyse and evaluate historical documents. By studying Democracy & Dictatorships in Germany (1919-1964) students will learn about the causes and consequences of revolutionary change and political movements such as National Socialism. All students will have the opportunity to undertake wider reading and an extended personal study related to Nazi Germany 1933-1945. They will be taught how to conduct independent research, reference and how to write at length persuasively and analytically. The key stage 5 curriculum is completed with a thematic study of Russia over an extended period of over 100 years. Russia and its Rulers (1855-1964) examines the concepts of leadership, autocracy, democracy, and communism in a case study of how ideology, structures of government, politics, nationalism, culture, and economics changed in the fifty years either side of the 1917 Russian revolutions. In this way, the History Department will prepare you not only for your exams but support you take your place as the leaders of tomorrow.

Entry Requirements:

5 GCSES 4-9 or A*-C to include Maths and English Lang or Lit Grade 5 + GCSE History Grade 4 desirable

Where can History take me?

Soviet Premier Khrushchev said 'Historians are dangerous people' and the department is keen to live up to this! We are, of course, everywhere, and your skills can take you anywhere - law, business, media, journalism, politics and commerce.

If you have any questions or queries relating to the History curriculum please email headofhumanities@ecclesbourne.derbyshire.sch.uk for more information.