GCSE History
Almost all pupils in the Fourth and Fifth Forms take a GCSE course in Twentieth Century World History. In this course pupils investigate some of the major themes and developments from that century that still have an impact on the world today. Some of these ideas are further explored in study units that look in depth at key periods in 2 major countries: Germany 1918 - 1945, Russia under Lenin and Stalin. Pupils also study a key development period in Britain: the years from 1890-1918, including the foundation of the Welfare State, the winning of the vote for women, and the experience of the first total war. A piece of coursework is carried out in school and this accounts for 25% of the GCSE.
Core Content: International Relations, 1918-1939
The main part of this course covers the period between the two world wars, when recovery after the First World War collapsed in the Depression of the 1930s and the rise of the dictators. Pupils get a feel for the hopes and stresses of Europeans as they emerged from the trauma of the First World War. The dramatic developments which followed the Depression and the rise of Hitler are studied as trouble in Asia with the Japanese aggression in China is then followed by the problems of Italy in Africa and Hitler in the heart of Europe. The tragic failure of the peacekeepers to keep the peace is analysed.
The main themes of the course are presented as investigations for pupils to develop and present their views as historians:
Were the Peace Treaties of 1919-23 fair?
- What were the motives and aims of the 'Big Three' from the USA, Britain and France in producing the peace settlement at Versailles?
- Why did all of the victors of World War I not get everything they wanted?
- What was the immediate impact of the peace treaty on Germany up to 1923?
- Could the peace treaties be justified at the time?
To what extent was the League of Nations a success?
- How successful was the League in the 1920s?
- How far did weaknesses in the League's organisation make failure inevitable?
- How far did the Depression make the work of the League more difficult?
- How successful was the League in the 1930s?
Why had international peace collapsed by 1939?
- What were the long-term consequences of the peace treaties of 1919-23?
- What were the consequences of the failures of the League in the 1930s?
- How far was Hitler's foreign policy to blame for the outbreak of war in 1939?
- Was the policy of appeasement justified?
- How important was the Nazi-Soviet Pact of August 1939?
- Why did Britain and France declare war on Germany in September 1939?
Top 
Depth Study: Germany 1918-1945
This topic, dealing with one of the crucial parts of twentieth century history, allows pupils to immerse themselves in the highs and lows of Germany and the Germans. It is assessed by examination.
Was the Weimar Republic doomed from the start?
- How did Germany emerge from defeat in the 1st World War?
- What was the impact of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany?
- To what extent did Germany recover after 1923?
- What were the achievements of the Weimar period?
Why was Hitler able to dominate Germany by 1934?
- What did the Nazi Party stand for in the 1920s?
- Why did the Nazis have little success before 1930?
- Why was Hitler able to become Chancellor by 1933?
- How did Hitler consolidate his power in 1933-4?
How effectively did the Nazis control Germany 1933-45?
- How much opposition was there to the Nazi regime?
- How effectively did the Nazis deal with their political opponents?
- How did the Nazis use culture and the mass media to control the people?
- Why did the Nazis persecute many groups in German society?
- Was Nazi Germany a totalitarian state?
What was it like to live in Nazi Germany?
- How did young people react to the Nazi regime?
- How successful were Nazi policies towards women and the family?
- Did most people in Germany benefit from Nazi rule?
- How did the coming of war change life in Germany?
Top Depth Study: Russia 1917-1941
This topic leads pupils to an understanding of the development of Communism in Russia, which was to have such an impact on the century, and the consolidation of the strength of the country and its leaders.
It is assessed by two pieces of coursework. The first requires pupils to show how change and causation can be analysed and explained in the establishment of Communist rule by Lenin's party. The second examines the securing and use of total power by Stalin. In it pupils will investigate the historical events, changes, people and issues in the Stalin period; develop understanding of how the Stalin period has been represented and interpreted over time; use historical sources critically in the historical context.
The course will investigate the following
Why did the Tsarist regime collapse in 1917?
- How well did the Tsarist regime deal with the difficulties of ruling Russia up to 1914?
- How did the Tsar survive the 1905 revolution?
- How far was the Tsar weakened by the First World War?
- Why was the revolution of March 1917 successful?
How did the Bolsheviks gain power, and how did they consolidate their rule?
- How effectively did the Provisional Government rule Russia in 1917?
- Why were the Bolsheviks able to seize power in November 1917?
- Why did the Bolsheviks win the Civil War?
- How far was the New Economic Policy a success?
How did Stalin gain and hold on to power?
- Why did Stalin, and not Trotsky, emerge as Lenin’s successor?
- Why did Stalin launch the ‘Purges’?
- What methods did Stalin use to control the Soviet Union?
- How complete was Stalin’s control over the Soviet Union by 1941?
What was the impact of Stalin’s economic policies?
- Why did Stalin introduce the Five-Year Plans?
- Why did Stalin introduce collectivisation?
- How successful were Stalin’s economic changes?
- How were the Soviet people affected by these changes?
Top Depth Study: Britain 1890-1918
This topic centres on how British society changed in the years 1890-1918. In studying this, pupils investigate the following:
- Why did the Liberal government introduce reforms to help the young, old and unemployed?
- How effective were these reforms?
- What were the arguments for and against female suffrage?
- How effective were the activities of the suffragists and the suffragettes?
- How did women contribute to the war effort?
- How were civilians affected by the war?
- How effective was government propaganda during the war?
- Why were some women given the vote in 1918?
- What was the attitude of the British people at the end of the war towards Germany and the Paris Peace Conference?
This topic is examined in a paper set on a range of source material. Candidates will be expected to use their contextual knowledge to help them comprehend, interpret, evaluate and use the sources and historical interpretations and representations they are given.