The Abbey Grammar School
77a, Ashgrove Road
Newry
Co Down, BT34 1QN
N Ireland
+44 (0) 28 3026 3142
The History Department aims:
To provide pupils with a wide range of skills through the study of History.
To stimulate an interest in the past
To ensure that every pupil succeeds to the best of their ability
To ensure that students from KS3 – A-Level are provided with a range of enriching learning experiences
Ensure that students understand how societies are shaped by a diverse range of attitudes and beliefs
Key Stage 3
At Key Stage 3, History is delivered over three lessons per week
Pupils complete a number of assessments throughout the year including examinations in December and June. The focus at KS3 is to provide opportunities for pupils to study a wide range of time periods, societies and cultures. Our main goal at KS3 is to provide pupils with an excellent all-round learning experience.
GCSE
At GCSE students follow the CCEA specification. The course is delivered over 4 periods per week.
Pupils sit two modules – GHR11 in Year 11 ( worth 60% of the GCSE) and in Year 12, GHR21 ( worth 40% of the GCSE)
GHR11 consists of the following areas of study
Life in Nazi Germany 1933-45
Changing Relations : Northern Ireland and its Neighbours 1920 -1949
GHR21 consists of the following area of study
International Relations 1945-2003
GHR11 is a 1 hour 45 minute written examination paper
GHR21 is a 1 hour 15 minute written examination paper
A – Level
At Key Stage 5, the History Department offers History at AS and A2 Level. Pupils follow the CCEA specification. At AS and A2 Level, History is delivered over nine periods per week
At AS Level, pupils must successfully complete two modules. A further two modules must be successfully completed at A2 Level.
The two modules studied at AS Level are :
AS1 : Germany 1918 – 1945 ( worth 50% of AS and 20% of the full A-Level)
In this unit, pupils are required to answer short response questions, source work and a source-based question on interpretations.
This unit is assessed in the form of a written examination.
Pupils will have 1hr 30 minutes to complete the assessment for this unit.
Assessment of this unit will take place at the end of Year 13.
AS2 : Russia 1914-1941 ( worth 50% of AS and 20% of the full A-Level)
In this unit, pupils are required to complete a written examination that includes both short response and extended questions
This unit is assessed in the form of a written examination
Pupils will have 1hr 30 minutes to complete the assessment for this unit.
Assessment of this unit will take place at the end of Year 13.
The two modules studied at A2 level are :
A21 : The American Presidency 1900-2000 ( worth 20% of the A-Level)
Assessment for this option consists of a written examination. Students respond
to a synoptic essay question analyzing the period as a whole.
This unit is assessed in the form of a written examination
Pupils will have 1hr 15 minutes to complete the assessment for this unit.
Assessment of this unit will take place at the end of Year 14.
A22 : The Partition of Ireland 1900-1925 ( worth 40% of the A-Level)
This is a challenging unit where there will be a mixture of source questions and essays. Students will critically assess the value of sources and differing interpretations of the past.
Careers and History
The study of History is useful for students who are interested in pursuing careers such as:
Head of History and Politics
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