History

Fourth Form (Years 7 and 8)

Lower 4 pupils study the Middle Ages. We begin by looking at the making of England and the invasions and migrations of Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and Normans, before moving on to consider medieval Christianity and the turbulent relationship between Church and State. Further topics include the Plantagenet monarchs, the development of parliament, the Black Death, the Peasants’ Revolt, and the Crusades.


In Upper 4 pupils study the Early Modern period. We begin with the voyages of discovery and the conquest of the Aztec Empire, then move on to a study of the Italian Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution. We also focus on the English Reformation under the Tudors, the defeat of the Spanish Armada, and the Stuarts and the Civil Wars. Finally, pupils study the development of America to independence.

Fifth Form (Years 9, 10 and 11)

In Lower 5 pupils study the birth of the modern world and the growth and impact of British imperialism. This includes the transatlantic trade in enslaved people and the processes of both colonisation and decolonisation in Africa, India and elsewhere. Other topics include the French Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, and the struggle for the vote in Britain, including women’s suffrage. Finally pupils study the causes and events of the First World War.


In Middle 5 and Upper 5 we follow the Cambridge IGCSE specification. Pupils study International Relations from 1919 through the twentieth century, which includes the legacy of the First World War, the collapse of peace by 1939, and the causes, course and conclusion of the Cold War.


For our ‘depth study’ we focus on Germany from 1918 to 1945: the Weimar Republic, the rise of Hitler and the catastrophe of Nazi rule.


There are two written exams at the end of the course and pupils also complete one coursework essay on culture in Weimar Germany.

Sixth Form

History is a popular choice and the department is able to run two separate routes to the A-Level; pupils will study one of the options below. Both involve a British and a non-British component, following the AQA exam board specification.

  • Empires of the Modern World:
    1J: The British Empire, c.1857-1967
    2Q: The American Dream: Reality and Illusion, 1945-1980
  • Medieval and Renaissance Worlds:
    2A: Royal Authority and the Angevin Kings, 1154–1216
    1B: Spain in the Age of Discovery, 1469–1598


Pupils may express a preference but this cannot always be guaranteed and will depend on timetabling. Both courses offer fascinating topics that will satisfy any curious historian.


In addition, pupils complete one coursework essay of c.4,000 words which covers a period of approximately 100 years. Pupils will have a choice of different topics which include:

  • The Civil Rights Struggle in the USA, 1865-1968
  • The Expansion of the American West, 1776-1869
  • The Witchcraze in Early Modern Europe, 1581-1676
  • The Crusades, 1095-1192


History is seen by leading universities as a strong academic choice: it is intellectually rigorous, keeps options open, and can lead to a wide variety of degree courses. Every year, pupils go on to study History at undergraduate level, and the department provides support with applications to leading universities including Oxford and Cambridge.

Our senior History society, the Clio Society, meets fortnightly and is an excellent forum for scholarly enrichment.


A Level Summary Information