History

Why study History?

'History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illuminates reality, vitalises memory, provides guidance in daily life and brings us tidings of antiquity' Cicero

The History Department at Bradford Girls' Grammar School is lively and innovative, seeking to engage students in an exploration of the past and the way the world in which they live has come into existence.

Which specification is followed?

At Key Stage 3, all students study the Middle Ages, 1066 -1400, The Making of the UK, 1485­-1750, The Industrial Revolution 1750–1900 and The Twentieth Century.  The department organises trips to support classroom learning, including a visit to York to explore a medieval city and a visit to the Royal Armouries, Leeds, to gain 'hands on' experience of the English Civil War. The department also works alongside the English Department to organise an annual visit to the battlefields of the First World War, where students are encouraged to consider the realities of war.

GCSE history is a popular option and the department achieves very good results.  Students study AQA (B) Modern World History.  Unit 1 explores International Relations: Conflict and Peace in the Twentieth Century. This includes The Origins of the First World War, Peacemaking 1918–1919 and the League of Nations and The Origins of the Cold War 1945-1955.

Unit 2 explores three 20th Century in-depth studies: The Roaring 20s: USA, 1919-1929; Stalin's Dictatorship: USSR, 1924-41; and Hitler's Germany, 1929-1939.  Unit 3 is a compulsory Historical Enquiry which is assessed by means of a controlled assessment.  Through guided research, students will prepare their own responses to tasks which are set by the board, relating to the changing role and status of women in Britain, since 1900.

The department has enjoyed great success at A level in recent years: in 2010 100% of students gained the highest possible grade A at AS and 70% gained A* or A at A2.

The department follows the AQA A-level specification and the overall theme of our selected modules encourages students to explore change and revolution in many different forms.  At AS students study two units, both of which are examined; Tsarist Russia 1855 - 1917 and The Campaign for African American Civil Rights in the USA 1950 - 968.  At A2, Unit 3 is the only examined unit, exploring British History, The Triumph of Elizabeth, 1547 - 1603.  Unit 4 is a Historical Enquiry, where students can select their own area of interest within a 100 year period and pursue their own research.  Their completed assignment of 4,000 words, including a 500 word source evaluation, comprises 20% of their final A level. 

Degree and career choices

A level students have gone on to study History, Law, Archaeology and Medicine at university.