Our GCSE at Prenton offers students a wide range of skills that enhances their learning across the curriculum. Students will evolve their knowledge and skills from KS3 in order to develop into analytical thinkers with an academic writing style. We focus on British and American History over the past thousand years, charting the change and continuity that have impacted our diverse communities. Students’ passion for History is cultivated by the study of under-represented groups in historical narratives, for example Elizabeth I’s battle for legitimacy, witchcraft, North American genocide, struggle for Black American rights and treatment of civilians in the Vietnam War. History is a well-respected subject amongst many employers, sixth form colleges and universities and can lead to careers in law, politics, education, media and local government.

Table of topics

Year 10	Year 11
Crime and punishment in Britain through time, 1000-present Medieval Early Modern Industrial Revolution Modern Enquiry: Whitechapel 1880s Early Elizabethan England 1558-1588 Problems for Elizabeth Spanish Armada Tudor society	The American West 1830-90 Migration to and settlement of the West The persecution of the Plains Indians Lawlessness A divided nation: USA 1954-75 Civil Rights The Vietnam War

Exam board: Edexcel GCSE History

Nature of examination:3 x written exam papers Paper 1 – Crime and Punishment through time Length of paper: 1 hour 15 minutes % of final grade: 30% Paper 2 – Period and Depth Studies Part A – American West Part  B – Early Elizabethan England Length of paper: 1 hour 45 mins % of final grade 40% Paper 3 – USA 1954-75 Length of paper: 1 hour 20 mins % of final grade 30%

Find out more about this qualification.

View the GCSE course specification