History

Term 1 

Why Was Elizabethan England Known as a ‘Golden Age’? 
Explores Elizabeth I’s reign as a time of cultural, political, and economic growth. Students examine her leadership, challenges as a female monarch, religious settlement, and achievements in exploration and culture, with global comparisons to Mughal India. 

How and Why Did the Monarchy Lose Power by the End of the 17th Century? 
Examines the English Civil War, execution of Charles I, and the Glorious Revolution. Students explore themes of power, democracy, and the shifting relationship between the monarchy and Parliament. 

What Can We Learn About African Kingdoms in the 17th Century from Artefacts? 
A study of African civilisations before European colonisation, including the Benin, Kongo, and Oyo kingdoms. Students analyse artefacts to learn about governance, art, and trade, debating issues around museum collections and cultural heritage. 

The Transatlantic Slave Trade 
Explores the development of the slave trade, life on the Middle Passage, and plantation life. Students examine Britain’s economic involvement, the human impact of slavery, resistance and rebellion, and the abolition movement. 

Term 3 

How Much Did Britain Transform During the Industrial Revolution? 
Focuses on rapid industrial, technological, and urban change. Students study new inventions, population growth, poor living conditions, and improvements in transport and public health. 

Were People Successful in Their Demands for Greater Rights? 
Investigates the growth of democracy and reform in 19th-century Britain. Topics include the Peterloo Massacre, the Chartists, and the Reform Acts, alongside evolving roles of women and the working class. 

Was Racial Superiority the Driving Force Behind the Rise of the British Empire? 
Examines the motivations and impacts of empire building. Students learn about British colonisation in India and Africa, the role of figures like Cecil Rhodes, and the consequences—both positive and negative—of imperial expansion. 

Term 1 

How Were Women Able to Achieve the Vote by 1928? 
Explores the struggle for women’s suffrage in Britain. Students study the roles of suffragettes and suffragists, the actions of Emily Davison, and the impact of WWI on women’s rights. 

What Caused World War I? 
Investigates the long- and short-term causes of WWI, including militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism. Students analyse historical interpretations and study how the war began after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. 

How and Why Did Experiences Vary During WWI? 
Explores the diverse experiences of soldiers and civilians. Topics include Empire soldiers, Liverpool’s contribution, trench life, shell shock, medical advances, women’s roles, and conscientious objectors.

Term 2  

How Much Did the Russian Revolution Transform Society? 
Examines the fall of the Tsar, the rise of Lenin and the Bolsheviks, and the creation of a communist state. Students consider economic, political, and social changes and their global impact. 

How Roaring Was 1920s America? 
Explores post-war America, including economic boom, social change, jazz culture, prohibition, and the contrast between prosperity and inequality. 

Term 3 

Was Success in WWII Due to the Leadership of Winston Churchill? 
Analyses key moments of WWII, such as Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain, and D-Day. Students evaluate Churchill’s leadership and the wider factors leading to Allied victory. 

What Happened During the Holocaust and Why Must It Be Remembered? 
A study of Nazi persecution and genocide, exploring anti-Semitism, ghettos, concentration camps, resistance, and the importance of remembrance and moral responsibility. 

How Has Immigration from c1000 to the Present Day Helped Shape Modern Britain? 
Traces migration to Britain over 1,000 years, from Vikings and Saxons to post-WWII Commonwealth immigration. Students explore the challenges and contributions of migrant communities to British identity and culture. 

HT1 – Germany: From Kaiser to Weimar – Democracy in Crisis 

Students learn how Germany was ruled under Kaiser Wilhelm II and why his government struggled to deal with rapid change. They study the impact of the First World War, including economic hardship and the creation of the Weimar Republic. The course examines early political uprisings and hyperinflation before looking at the short period of stability in the 1920s, when Germany recovered under Stresemann. 

HT2 – The Rise of Hitler: Depression, Dictatorship and Control 

Students investigate how the Great Depression led to widespread unemployment and disillusionment, increasing support for extremist parties like the Nazis. They learn how Hitler became Chancellor through political deals and then turned Germany into a dictatorship using events such as the Reichstag Fire and the Enabling Act. The topic explores how opposition was eliminated and how Hitler’s leadership became absolute. 

HT3 – Life in Nazi Germany: Society, Economy and Terror 

This unit explores everyday life under Nazi rule. Students learn how the regime reduced unemployment through rearmament and public works, while also controlling society through propaganda, censorship and policing by the Gestapo and SS. They study how different groups were affected, including young people, women and religious groups, as well as how Jews and minority communities were persecuted, leading to the Holocaust. 

HT4 – Origins of the Cold War: Superpower Tensions and Division 

Students examine how relations between the USA and the USSR deteriorated after the Second World War. They study key meetings such as Yalta and Potsdam, the development of atomic weapons and how Eastern Europe fell under Soviet control. They learn how the USA responded through the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan, and how tensions grew during the Berlin Blockade. 

HT5 – Cold War Developments: Asia, Arms Race and Global Rivalries 

Students learn how communism spread into China and how the Korean War intensified global Cold War conflict. They explore the escalating arms and space races, alongside the formation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact. The topic also examines the Hungarian Uprising and how Soviet actions shaped relations between East and West. 

HT6 – Cold War Transformation: Cuba, Berlin Wall & Détente 

Students investigate dramatic Cold War crises, including the building of the Berlin Wall and the Cuban Missile Crisis, when the world came close to nuclear conflict. They study growing tensions within Eastern Europe through the Prague Spring, before examining how relations improved through détente, including key agreements aimed at limiting nuclear weapons. 

HT1 – Medicine Stands Still: Medieval to Renaissance Developments 

Students explore medical beliefs and treatments in medieval Britain, where religion and superstition shaped medicine and surgery. They learn how Islamic medicine contributed knowledge and how limited scientific understanding slowed progress. Moving into the Renaissance, they study how individuals such as Vesalius, Paré and Harvey challenged old ideas, even though many traditional beliefs remained in use. 

HT2 – Revolution in Medicine: Germ Theory, Surgery & Public Health 

Students learn how Germ Theory transformed understanding of disease through the work of Pasteur and Koch. They explore developments in surgery, including anaesthetics and antiseptics, and the move toward safer, aseptic procedures. The topic also looks at improvements in public health due to cholera outbreaks and the increasing role of government in improving sanitation and living conditions. 

HT3 – Modern Medicine: NHS, Technology and Treatment 

This topic focuses on how medicine advanced in the 20th century. Students study the discovery and mass production of penicillin, the creation of the NHS, and improvements in public health. They also examine how technology, including X-rays, keyhole surgery and modern cancer treatments, has revolutionised surgery and healthcare, while discussing ongoing issues such as antibiotic resistance. 

HT4 – Elizabeth I: Power, Court, Parliament & Society 

Students explore Elizabeth I’s leadership, including the challenges she faced as a female monarch and how she managed her court and key advisers. They look at the growth of Elizabethan culture, including the theatre and exploration, and how society changed as England grew wealthier. The topic shows how Elizabeth maintained authority while managing political and religious concerns. 

HT5 – Elizabeth’s Challenges: Religion, Mary Queen of Scots & Armada 

Students investigate threats to Elizabeth’s rule, examining Catholic rebellions, plots linked to Mary Queen of Scots and the growing conflict with Spain. They learn why Spain launched the Spanish Armada and how England defeated it. The topic highlights how Elizabeth dealt with religious tensions and national security during a period of domestic and international challenges. 

HT6 – Elizabethan Historic Environment 

Students study a specific historic site linked to Elizabethan England, exploring how it reflects the culture, politics and society of the period. They learn how the building was used, who it was connected to and how it relates to wider historical events. This helps students understand how history is revealed through real places that survive today.