020 7586 0312
Apply Now

History

Examination board: AQA
History A level first examination in June 2017

History helps us to better understand the present, while giving us the opportunity to explore alien worlds. As L.P. Hartley famously said, “The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.” At Fine Arts we seek to make the past simultaneously exciting, mysterious and illuminating, using wide-ranging discussion, primary sources, a well furnished subject library and documentary film and assorted media. There are regular educational trips: students attend conferences and visit relevant exhibitions. Consideration of evidence provided by the art and literature of the period constitutes an important part of students’ historical studies. By the end of the two-year course students will be capable of engaging with and navigating through a wide range of historical evidence, but also of interpreting these sources independently and constructing their own arguments convincingly.

What will I learn?

A Level History requires the study of three modules:

Lower Sixth

Module 1: Breadth Paper (Tudor England: 1485-1603)
Module 2: Depth Paper (Germany 1918 to 1945)

Module 3: Personal Study (coursework essay)

Upper Sixth

 

Module 1: Breadth Paper (Tudor England: 1485-1603)
Module 2: Depth Paper (Germany 1918 to 1945)

Module 3: Personal Study (coursework essay)

MODULE 1

In the Lower Sixth students study the exam topic: Tudor England: 1485-1603. The module covers British history between 1485 and 1603, including the establishment of the Tudor dynasty, religion, government, society trade and international relations. In the exam candidates answer three questions on this topic, worth 40% of the total marks awarded at A level.

MODULE 2

In the Lower and Upper Sixth students study the exam topic: Democracy & Nazism. The module covers the history of Germany between 1919 and 1945 focusing on the struggle to establish a legitimate political system in Germany after the collapse of the German Empire in 1918. In the exam candidates answer three questions on this topic, worth 40% of the total marks.

MODULE 3

In the Upper Sixth students undertake a 3500-word coursework essay which carries 20% of the total A level marks. This is an historical investigation based on a selection of primary and secondary sources. Students make their own choice of subject for investigation from a choice of four. The essay focuses on the relative significance of an individual or event, within the context of a period of 100 years.

Department successes

History is a subject that is highly regarded by employers and universities. It builds skills of analysis and essay writing that are valuable for almost any subject at degree level. It provides an excellent grounding for those interested in future careers in areas such as journalism, law, politics, and academic research.

Some past History students have been offered places at universities such as Birmingham, Bristol, Oxford Brookes, Sussex, and Brown University, New York, to follow degree courses in History, Sociology, Humanities, and Law.

What will I learn?

A Level History requires the study of three modules:

Lower Sixth

Module 1: Breadth Paper (Stuart Britain 1603 to 1702)
Module 2: Depth Paper (Germany 1918 to 1945)

Upper Sixth

Module 2 (continued)
Module 3: Personal Study (coursework essay)

MODULE 1

In the Lower Sixth students study the exam topic: The Stuart Monarchy & the Crisis of State. The module covers British history between 1603 and 1702, including issues surrounding the monarchy and the Civil War. In the exam candidates answer three questions on this topic, worth 40% of the total marks awarded at A level.

MODULE 2

In the Lower and Upper Sixth students study the exam topic: Democracy & Nazism. The module covers the history of Germany between 1919 and 1945 focusing on the struggle to establish a legitimate political system in Germany after the collapse of the German Empire in 1918. In the exam candidates answer three questions on this topic, worth 40% of the total marks.

MODULE 3

In the Upper Sixth students undertake a 3500-word coursework essay which carries 20% of the total A level marks. This is an historical investigation based on a selection of primary and secondary sources. Students make their own choice of subject for investigation. The essay focuses on the relative significance of an individual or event, within the context of a period of 100 years.  Previously, students have submitted essays on a wide range of topics including aspects of the Irish Question, Roman Britain, and Civil Rights in the USA.

Department successes

History is a subject that is highly regarded by employers and universities. It builds skills of analysis and essay writing that are valuable for almost any subject at degree level. It provides an excellent grounding for those interested in future careers in areas such as journalism, law, politics, and academic research.

Some past History students have been offered places at universities such as Birmingham, Bristol, Oxford Brookes, Sussex, and Brown University, New York, to follow degree courses in History, Sociology, Humanities, and Law.

About Fine Arts College

Hampstead Fine Arts College is one of the foremost Arts colleges in London. learn more about us, our staff and where our students fit in.

About