HARLINGTON UPPER SCHOOL

Students will study a range of topics from the 19^th and 20^th century.

Topics will include:

• The Industrial Revolution. The social and economic impact including law and order, the quality of living standards and life in the factories.
• The British Empire with an evaluation of the positives and negatives and its legacy.
• The causes of the First World War.
• Life on the Western Front.
• Road to War – the Inter War Years.
• 1940 – Dunkirk, the battle of Britain and the Blitz
• The Holocaust
• The dropping of the Atomic Bomb.

The history teachers at Harlington have a passionate belief in the importance of history in the curriculum.  Perhaps most importantly, history enables students to develop key transferable skills, notably the ability to read, select and apply relevant information to solve complex questions.  Recognising what is accurate and reliable has huge benefits in the modern media rich world; history provides students with the critical skills relevant to dealing with both the opportunities and challenges of a world which is rapidly changing. 

By its very nature the study of history requires students to be able to read and write to a good standard as well as the ability to remember key information and sequence events in chronological order.  History is a strong academic subject which is why universities see it as a facilitating subject.

Studying History is often a gateway to a lifetime of interest and enjoyment in a subject where there is something for everyone: whether you enjoy military or social history, kings and queens or political history.  School should not be all about exams and grades, though they are important, but also about inspiring a pleasure and curiosity in learning.  We hope that our history students will leave Harlington with an interest in history which goes beyond the school curriculum.

Within the confines of the new curriculum we have selected a specification which we hope provides students with an interesting and diverse course of study.  The topics we will be studying are:

• Period Study and British Depth Study – Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060-88 and Superpower Relations and the Cold War 1941-91.
• Modern Depth Study - Weimar and Nazi Germany.
• Thematic study and historic environment – Medicine in Britain 1250 – present.

Paper 1: Britain Transformed 1918-1979 Breadth Study with interpretations (Margaret Thatcher 1979-1997)

Paper 2: The USA Boom, Bust and Recovery  ( Depth)  1920-1955

Paper 3: Protest and Rebellion under the Tudors 1485-1603

Coursework: 'Historians have disagreed about the extent to which the Holocaust was a long term plan. What is your view about the extent to which it was a long term plan?'

This is a linear A Level , so students will be examined at the end of Year 13.

Learning strategies:

History is a content heavy subject and requires well developed written skills. It is essential that students enjoy reading as note making is an important element of A Level study and will form a core activity in lessons. Discussion is also a key component of lessons as the best lessons are those where students are willing to share and discuss their opinion.  As the course has a strongly political aspect, students must follow the news whether by reading a newspaper or online. Student will also be required to deliver presentations and work effectively in groups. Students will be taught how to write essays and to answer both source and interpretation questions using the relevant Assessment Objectives set by the exam board. This will be supported by homework and timed essays in class. A Level History is a big step up from GCSE: the successful history student is motivated, genuinely interested in the subject and able to work independently.