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Understand complex questions and dilemmas by examining how the past has shaped today
Understand complex questions and dilemmas by examining how the past has shaped today
Understand complex questions and dilemmas by examining how the past has shaped today
A Level History requires you to achieve at least the minimum entry requirements for your chosen pathway plus a grade 5 or higher in GCSE English Language, plus a grade 5 or higher in English Literature or a humanities subject, e.g. Geography, Government and Politics, Law or Religious Studies. The minimum entry requirements will be discussed at open events and at your college interview.
Modern History is a pleasurable subject to learn, and is an ideal choice if you are keen to understand some of the major events and developments which have dominated the world. It will be of interest if you like to think critically about the way in which our lives have been shaped, are keen to express your own opinion, and if you are ready to argue in favour of your own interpretation of events.
It will also be of interest if you are enthusiastic to develop your skills of analysis and critical thinking. History is a subject that inspires debate—indeed, historians never cease to learn through active participation. History perfectly complements a range of other subjects— especially in the Humanities, and is a recognised facilitating subject for a wide range of undergraduate programmes of study.
As an A Level History student, you will be issued with a substantial body of learning resources including books, articles, PowerPoints, maps, printed notes, study guides, progress trackers, historical sources, essay plans and revision exercises. Additional learning materials, together with supplementary learning resources, are available for students to access on the College intranet. The Department also has a substantial library of History books for you to use. We also provide additional support for students who need further guidance regarding their written work, and more generally for students who wish to discuss issues arising from the topics which they have been studying.
Each History class takes place in a dedicated History classroom, with the resources appropriate to the course immediately to hand. Teaching and learning combine presentations, discussions, and debates, skills lessons including essay writing skills, source analysis, exam techniques, research skills, and teamwork activities. At Wyke we encourage you to complete independent learning and critical thinking, and so to be actively involved at all times, and to undertake plenty of reading. Striving toward 100% attendance is also crucial to success in A Level History.
Understanding History is a superb asset if you wish to progress to study at university, no matter what the subject — History, Law, Politics, Philosophy, Sociology, Heritage Studies, Languages, Classics, American Studies, Economics, English Literature, and so on. History here at Wyke is so much more than just knowledge of the past: it provides you with training in analytical thinking, and develops a variety of transferable skills which are highly relevant to your future employment. Industry and commerce seek critical thinkers, who can absorb lots of information, ask critical questions of the data, and formulate their own logical conclusions. These industries seek people who can analyse problems, research and interpret information, present reports that consider different options and varying points of view, communicate clearly, and use their powers of persuasion to argue in favour of a particular decision or policy. All these skills are acquired through the study of History here at Wyke.
You will learn about the dramatic political, economic and social transformation of the USA in the twentieth century, an era that saw the USA challenged by the consequences of political, economic and social inequalities at home and of its involvement in international conflict.
2 hour 15 minute examination comprising of two essay questions and one interpretation question.
In this topic, you will complete an in depth study of the transition of the Indian sub-continent from a colony to independence. The gaining of Indian independence influenced both the nature of civil rights campaigning and the search for national self-determination throughout the world. You will gain an in-depth understanding of the changing relationship between Britain and India from the outbreak of the First World War to the achievement of independence for the Indian sub-continent, and of the reasons for this, with particular reference to Indian nationalism.
1 hour 30 minute examination comprising of one source question and one essay question.
This topic comprises of two parts: the aspects in breadth focus on long-term changes and contextualise the aspects in depth, which focus in detail on key episodes. Together, the breadth and depth topics will allow you to explore the British experience of war in different aspects of major overseas conflicts and the changing relationship between the state and the people as the government attempted to create an effective fighting machine and prepare the people for war.
Within the primarily military focus on the experience of warfare, you will have the opportunity to explore its political, social and economic dimensions and their part in generating pressure for change.
2 hour 15 minute examination comprising of one source question and two essay questions.
Enquiry into historical interpretations:
3000-4000 word essay.
A Level History is taught as a ‘linear’ course, which means that the course runs for two years with the final assessment/exams taking place at the end of the two years of study. If you choose to study history here at Wyke, you will be expected to study inside and outside of college to ensure your success on the course.
Choose a prominent figure or event from the last 200 years who you find interesting — perhaps Admiral Nelson, Lord Wellington, Otto von Bismarck, General Haig, David Lloyd George, Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Franklin Roosevelt, Mao Tse Tung, John F. Kennedy, the Napoleonic Wars, the First World War, the Second World War, the Civil Rights Movement and so on — and then try to research your chosen subject.
Consider what it was that made them so important, powerful or influential. Rather than merely relying on Google or Wikipedia, go to the central library and find a biography of your chosen figure, and dip into the book to find out more about their personality, beliefs and attitudes. Consider their achievements in the context of the difficulties of the period. Possessing more detailed knowledge of such an individual or event will provide you with a useful analytical perspective to help with your future studies of History.
Wyke Sixth Form College hold train to teach information events which offer you a great insight into this course. If you are interested in attending one of these events, please complete this form and we will be in contact with the key information.
Please note that the applications for this course can be submitted by following the ‘Apply Now’ button on this page. Applications are made through the University of Huddersfield rather than Wyke Sixth Form College. We look forward to meeting with you.
The skills that you will gain by studying History at Wyke will support you if you are intending to pursue a career in, for example, journalism, broadcasting, the law, the police force, the civil service, local government, politics, marketing, and the heritage and leisure and tourism industries, and publishing. It is also highly appropriate if you are intending to pursue business or managerial careers in manufacturing industry and commerce as a whole.
At Wyke Start, our 2-day taster event in July, each of your subjects will set you some work to complete to help prepare you for the course. The work is available to download on https://www.wyke.ac.uk/wyke-start-summer-work
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This year, the History Department will be taking History students to various places of international historic importance, including Washington, Auschwitz, and Belgium Battlefield Tours. The History department also runs Master Classes for students with a passion for History, and for those who have high ambitions in the subject. The History department is also keen to invite university lecturers in History to come to Wyke to talk to our History students, thereby giving them a taste of studying History at university.
