KS4 GCSE

History

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Course ID
Edexcel 1HI0
Faculty
Humanities
Department
History
Level
GCSE
Head of Faculty
E. Richman
Head of Department
E. Christie
KS4 GCSE History

Course Overview

Studying History at GCSE offers students the opportunity to explore the events, people and ideas that have shaped the modern world. The course builds on the foundations established at Key Stage 3, further developing the historical skills and processes that allow students to investigate the past and understand its relevance to the present.

Students follow the Edexcel GCSE (9–1) specification, which includes a range of fascinating topics from different periods of history. These studies allow students to explore modern world history, key aspects of British history, an environmental study and a unit that examines historical change and continuity across a thousand years. Through these topics, students gain a deeper understanding of how societies develop, how events are connected and how historical interpretations can differ.

Throughout the course, students develop important skills such as analysing sources, interpreting evidence and evaluating historical arguments. They learn to construct well-supported explanations and to consider different perspectives when studying past events and individuals.

The course aims to inspire curiosity and foster a genuine excitement about History while equipping students with the knowledge and analytical skills needed for success in the GCSE examinations. It also provides a strong foundation for further study at A-Level and supports future pathways in fields such as law, politics, journalism, education and many other areas where critical thinking and strong communication skills are valued.

Course Description

Year 10

Term Unit of Work Assessment
Autumn 1 Unit: Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918-39 
Key topic 1: The Weimar Republic 1918-29. 
Key topic 2: Hitler’s rise to power, 1919-39. 
Exam questions. 
Autumn 2 Unit: Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918-39 
Key topic 3: Nazi control and dictatorship, 1933–39. 
Key Topic 4: Life in Nazi Germany 1933-39. 
Mid-unit assessment 
 
Exam questions.
Spring 1 Key Topic 4: Life in Nazi Germany 1933-39 (cont) 
Unit: Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000-present 
Key topic 1: Crime and Punishment 1000-1500 
Key topic 2: Crime and Punishment 1500-1700
End of unit assessment. 
Exam questions. 
Spring 2 Unit: Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000-present 
Key Topic 3: Crime and Punishment 1700-1900 
Key Topic 4: Crime and Punishment 1900 to the present day
Exam questions.
Summer 1 Crime and Punishment 1900 to the present day 
Whitechapel, c1870–c1900: crime, policing and the inner city. 
Whitechapel: Living conditions, social issues, immigration, nature of crime, Jack the Ripper. 
Knowledge, selection and use of sources for historical enquiries. 
End of Unit Assessment. 
Exam questions. 
Summer 2 Whitechapel, c1870–c1900: crime, policing and the inner city. 
Whitechapel: Jack the Ripper, Policing and the role of the press. 
Knowledge, selection and use of sources for historical enquiries. 
Revision. 

Exam questions.  

Year 10 Mock Exam.

Please note that for classes with two history teachers the timings of the units in each year will differ.

Year 11

Term Unit of Work Assessment
Autumn 1 Unit: Superpower relations and the Cold War, 1941-91 
Key topic 1: The origins of the Cold War, 1941-58 
Key topic 2: Cold War crises, 1958-70 
Exam questions. 
Autumn 2 Unit: Superpower relations and the Cold War, 1941-91 
Key topic 2: Cold War crises, 1958-70 
Key topic 3: The end of the Cold War, 1970-91 
Mock exam 
Exam questions. 
Spring 1 Unit: Superpower relations and the Cold War, 1941-91 
Unit: Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060–88 
Key topic 1: Anglo-Saxon England and the Norman Conquest, 1060-6. 
Key topic 2: William I in power: securing the kingdom, 1066–87. 
End of unit assessment 
Exam questions. 
Spring 2 Unit: Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060-88 
Key topic 2: William I in power: securing the kingdom, 1066-87. 
Key topic 3: Norman England, 1066-88. 
Revision and GCSE exam preparation 
Exam questions. 
End of unit assessment. 
Summer 1 Revision and GCSE exam preparation.   
Summer 2 GCSE Examination.  GCSE Examination. 

Please note that for classes with two history teachers the timings of the units in each year will differ.

Extended Learning

Year 10

Websites Read Visit or Watch Extra
Seneca Learning; Germany – GCSE History – BBC Bitesize;  Charles Booth Online Map and Archive.  Pearson or Hodder GCSE revision guides listed on EBS shop; The Book Thief 
(Markus Zusak); When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit (Judith Kerr); The Five: The 
Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper (Hallie Rubenhold); Alone in Berlin (Hans Fallada). 
1066 A Year to Conquer England (BBC); The Nazis – A Warning from History (BBC) – clips can also be found online; Robert Bartlett, The Normans (BBC DVD) – accessible documentary by one of the leading authorities, Episode 2: Conquest is particularly 
relevant; 1066 Battle of Hastings, National Trust Abbey and Battlefield; The Tower of London; Whitechapel walking tour. 
Possible joint trip with the German Department to Berlin / Vienna. 

 

Year 11

Websites Read Visit or Watch Extra
Seneca Learning; BBC Bitesize Normans; BBC Teach The Norman Conquest – short animation clips on YouTube covering different aspects of the battle/conquest;  Pearson or Hodder GCSE revision guides listed on EBS shop; The Book Thief 
(Markus Zusak); When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit (Judith Kerr); The Five: The 
Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper (Hallie Rubenhold); Alone in Berlin (Hans Fallada). 
1066 A Year to Conquer England (BBC); The Nazis – A Warning from History (BBC) – clips can also be found online; Robert Bartlett, The Normans (BBC DVD) – accessible documentary by one of the leading authorities, Episode 2: Conquest is particularly 
relevant; 1066 Battle of Hastings, National Trust Abbey and Battlefield; The Tower of London; Whitechapel walking tour. 
Joint trip with the German Department to Berlin / Vienna. 

 

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