What is it?
Modern history is the fascinating story of human behaviour and the people and moments that have shaped our world, you will have the opportunity to study aspects of world history from a variety of different periods.
Why study this subject at Blackpool Sixth?
This course is uniquely attractive to students, universities and employers providing you with the skills employers desire whilst investigating three of the most turbulent and dramatic periods of history.
What skills will I develop?
History prepares students very well for university as it teaches the skills of analysis, evaluation and effective written and verbal communication. Students follow careers in areas such as law, journalism, teaching and management.
How will I be taught?
A range of methods including discussion and debate, group work and independent research.
How will I be assessed?
You will be assessed at the end of the second year by two examinations worth 40% each. You will also complete a piece of coursework worth 20%.
Teacher expertise
Our history teachers have studied these topics at university level and have examined for both A both Level papers.
Field trips, projects and employability opportunities
The Lower Sixth have the opportunity to visit Rome and London. The Upper Sixth have the opportunity to visit Berlin and Krakow. We also invite guest speakers to college who give lectures on aspects on the course.
Where does it lead?
History students go on to study a wide variety of university courses. History prepares students very well for university as it teaches the skills of analysis, evaluation and effective written and verbal communication. Students follow careers in areas such as law, journalism, teaching and management. In recent years a number of our students have been successful in gaining places at Oxbridge to study history.
Equipment
None specific – textbooks are made available in lessons.
Examination board
AQA
Specific Requirements
Grade 5 in GCSE History (if studied at school) and grade 5 in GCSE English Language is preferred but a grade 4 in either/both will be considered
What will I study?
Topic 1 – The Tudors
Rich with exploration, execution, conflict and conspiracy, the reign of the Tudors is a fascinating period of British history. Learn how Henry VII forged a great dynasty on the battlefield. Investigate Henry VIII’s megalomania and how his desire for a divorce reshaped religion in England. Discover whether the nine year old Edward was capable of continuing his father’s legacy and if Mary I really deserved the title ‘Bloody Mary’. Lastly, study the reign of arguably England’s most famous Queen, Elizabeth I, who defeated the Spanish Armada and established England as a European power.
Topic 2 – The Cold War 1945 -1991
Capitalism vs. Communism. The West vs. the East. The USA vs. The USSR. The Cold War period has fundamentally shaped the modern world. Discover how differences of ideology led the victorious allied powers of WWII into fear and suspicion, which would last until the fall of the Berlin Wall and arguably still continues. Investigate how this conflict spread across the globe into Vietnam, Korea and Cuba as we try to answer the question ‘who really won the Cold War?’
Topic 3 – Personal Study / coursework
The personal study offers you the unique opportunity to independently research a topic of your interest. Whether you would like to uncover the mystery behind the collapse of Tsardom in Russia or the truth surrounding the reign of King John this unit prepares you for further study.