History

Just as popular interest in the past has arguably never been greater, so history at BGS thrives.  By national standards we are a large department, with eight staff currently teaching history, offering a choice of two GCSE and three A Level courses. We aim to build knowledge, develop skills and enhance understanding of the world around us – and to make studying the past accessible, stimulating and fun!  

At A Level students can choose one of three OCR courses.     

History 1 explores the early modern period: church and state, Luther and the German reformation, the Italian Renaissance at AS Level; at A2 we look at Tudor rebellions and Philip II.

History 2 addresses France and Italy in the nineteenth century together with Sir Robert Peel 1829-46 or British and imperial history.  At A2 the focus is on Russia 1855-1956 and on Lenin and the Bolsheviks.  

History 3 studies British history as for history 2 together with the origins of the American Civil War and westward expansion.  At A2 we look at American history 1763-1877 and Roosevelt’s America 1920-41.  

Each of the three courses requires a piece of coursework of 3,000 words which is undertaken in the Upper Sixth.

Academic success: In 2006 61% of A Level students were awarded grade A and 93% grades A-B.

  
Fieldwork. Typical Sixth Form fieldwork includes local sites such as the Royal Fort in Tyndall’s Park as well as more distant locations such as Washington and New York. In February 2008 we visit Florence and Rome.    

We run an internal history prize competition, the Revill Prize, and this year four members of our Lower Sixth were shortlisted for the prestigious Vellacott Historical Essay Prize.    


For full details of the A Level curriculum please visit www.ocr.org.uk