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Westfield Secondary School

GCSE History

Title of qualification

GCSE History

 

Exam Board

Edexcel

 

What will I learn?

The course has three key papers:

Paper 1 – Medicine through Time c.1250-Present

In this unit you will study the History of medicine over 750 years and the changes that took place. These changes are to do with ideas about causes, treatments and cures, who treated the sick, the factors that bring about change and the rate of change. It also considers whether change is the same as progress.

The course is split into 4 time periods:

  • Medieval medicine
  • Renaissance medicine
  • 18th and 19th Century Medicine
  • Modern Medicine

Additionally, there is also a special study on the treatment of the ill, wounded and injured in the trenches of the First World War.

Paper 2 – Early Elizabethan England 1558 – 1588 & The American West 1836 - 1895

Early Elizabeth England:

In this unit you will learn about the challenges facing the young queen and the problems caused by foreign threat, religion, finances and rivals for the throne. You will also consider Elizabethan society and the Age of Exploration as well as the deteriorating relationship with Spain that culminated in the Spanish Armada.

The American West:

In this unit you look at the making of the modern United States of America – looking at the push west to settle and the reasons for this which included the gold rush and the problems and conflicts this push westwards caused. This included conflict with the Plains Indians and the experiences of the Donnor Party and the Mormons. It also looks at the development of cowboys and cattle ranching, the railroads and the problems of law and order.

Paper 3 – Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918-1939

In this unit you will look at the difficulties Germany faced at the end of the First World War and the problems the new government had and why the recovery in the mid-1920s did not last. It looks at the reasons for Hitler’s rise to power and growing popularity and how, once in power, the Nazis ensured a dictatorship with little open opposition. The course also looks at how life changed for those living in Nazi Germany, particularly women, the young, workers and minorities who did not ‘fit’ Nazi ideals.

 

How will this course be assessed?

100% examination – 3 exam papers in total.

 

What skills do I need?

  • Literacy – the ability to read and write fluently.
  • Source skills, particularly assessing skills for their use or for what can be inferred from them.
  • The ability to think critically and reach a justified viewpoint or conclusion.
  • Oracy – the ability to discuss different opinions and values.
  • Presentational skills (spoken and written).
  • A commitment to work at home as well as in the classroom.

 

What is next for me after this course?

History is a very well regarded GCSE that all colleges and sixth forms will welcome. The A level is also well received at virtually all universities and colleges of higher education. History teaches skills that are transferable to a wide range of jobs: journalism, publishing, law, police, government, politics, charity work and many more.

 

Are there any restrictions with this course?

The course is open to all students. Please note the course has a heavy literacy content with extensive reading around the topic.

 

resources

You can find guidance on how to answer GCSE questions here.

Medicine 1250 - present

Videos:

Revision resources:

 

Early Elizabethan England

Videos:

Revision resources:

Weimar and Nazi Germany 1918 - 1939

Revision resources:

 

American West 1835 - 1895

Revision resources:

Lessons:

Home Learning: