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WLFS Secondary

The Knowledge Schools Trust

We aim to provide children with a classical liberal education, regardless of background or ability.

Modern History

About the Course

History is the study of the human past. 

The periods we study can inspire us, upset us and scare us, and it is through studying the stories of the past that we can come to a better understanding of our place in the present. This course focuses on 19th and 20th century British and world history. You will study how Britain became an industrial society and the consequences this had for the country’s political and economic system. You will then compare this with the development of Russia in the late 19th century, before going on to study the rise of the Soviet Union and how it ended up on the brink of nuclear conflict with the USA in the second half of the 20th century. The course builds directly on what WLFS students have studied at GCSE, but will also be fully accessible to students joining us from other schools, including those who have not previously studied history at GCSE. The course is excellent preparation for studying history at university, not least because of its breadth, taking in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

As a history department we take pride in the fact that all our teachers are experts in the topics they teach, and we work very hard to ensure we are up to date with all the details of the assessment for each exam and a number of the faculty are trained examiners for our chosen exam board, OCR. 

Studying history at A level is very highly regarded by top universities and our chosen topics aim to prepare pupils for further study of history at university as well as providing entry to a wide range of subjects including law, politics, economics, philosophy and English literature. The course also includes independent study on a period of history of your choice, which will help you develop the independence you need to be successful in your future studies.

Examination Board

OCR (H505)

Course Structure

  • Unit 1 From Pitt to Peel: Britain 1783-1853 (with Peel and the Age of Reform 1832-1853)
  • Unit 2 The Cold War in Europe 1941-1995
  • Unit 3 Russia and its rulers 1855-1964
  • Unit 4 Independent study