The GCSE examination board used for History GCSE is AQA.

In Year 10, students study content and exam skills required for Paper 1. There are two examination papers, each worth 50% of the final GCSE course. The first half of Paper 1 revolves around a period study, which focuses on the development of Germany during a turbulent half century of change. It was a period of democracy and dictatorship – the development and collapse of democracy and the rise and fall of Nazism. Students will study the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of these two developments and the role ideas played in influencing change. They will also look at the role of key individuals and groups in shaping change and the impact the developments had on them.

For the second half of Paper 1, students study a wider world depth study, focusing on conflict and tension in the Middle East, more specifically in the Gulf and Afghanistan during the years 1990-2009. Students will develop skills surrounding causes of conflict and tension, including why conflicts occurred and the difficulty in resolving the tensions which arose in this timeframe. This study also considers the role of key individuals in shaping change and how this affected foreign relations, for instance Saddam Hussein.

In Year 11, students study content and exam skills required for paper 2 of the examinations. There are two examination papers, each worth 50% of the final GCSE course. The first unit is a thematic study; Health and the People from 1000AD to the present day. Students are examined on their ability to analyse the utility of a source, the significance of key themes in health and medicine, and factors relating health and people over time. For example, the impact of individuals or the government on health and medicine.

The second unit studied for paper 2 is Elizabethan England. This is a depth study focusing on the reign of Elizabeth I from 1658-1603. Students learn about Elizabeth’s court and parliament, life in Elizabethan times and troubles at home and abroad. Students are assessed on their ability to analyse interpretations of the past. As part of this unit, students are required to answer a question about the historic environment of Elizabethan England which makes up 10% of the course and includes the in-depth study of a specific site which the exam board chooses each year. Students learn about the following aspects of the site; its location, function, structure, people connected with the site, design, how the design reflects the culture, values and fashions of the people at the time and how important events or developments from the depth study are connected to the site.