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KS4 Overview

The aims and objectives of this qualification are to enable students to: 

  • develop and extend their knowledge and understanding of specified key events, periods and societies in local, British, and wider world history; and of the wide diversity of human experience 

  • engage in historical enquiry to develop as independent learners and as critical and reflective thinkers 

  • develop the ability to ask relevant questions about the past, to investigate issues critically and to make valid historical claims by using a range of sources in their historical context 

  • develop an awareness of why people, events and developments have been accorded historical significance and how and why different interpretations have been constructed about them 

  • organise and communicate their historical knowledge and understanding in different ways and reachsubstantiated conclusions 

For GCSE we follow the Edexcel SHP syllabus. 

Building on KS3 and preparing for KS5…

Builds upon techniques , skills and knowledge at KS3.

Continues to develop extended writing, source skills and analysis of interpretations needed at KS5.

KS4 Assessment

Check students work , recall and remember, use of white boards, think pair share, discussion, questioning, hot seat etc 

Adaptive teaching and many different activities to suit all learning styles  

There are 4 core assessment pieces per year at Key Stage 4 .  Feedback sheets are given which include the mark scheme and written comments. . Verbal feedback is given during lessons for each assessment. Students are given time develop their knowledge and skills in response to this feedback. 
Students also sit a Year 10 GCSE examination style paper.  

KS4 Content

Y10 Content Autumn

The Reigns of Richard and John 1189-1216.

Y10 Content Spring

Medicine through Time with an in-depth study of The British Sector of the Western Front.

Y10 Content Summer

In-depth study of The British Sector of the Western Front 
Weimar and Nazi Germany 1918-39.

Y11 Content Autumn

Weimar and Nazi Germany 1918-39.

Y11 Content Spring

The Cold War 1945 - 91.

Y11 Content Summer

The Cold War 1945 – 91 and revision.

 

Exam Board and website link

Edexcel Modern World 

https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/History/2016/specification-and-sample-assessments/gcse-9-1-history-specification.pdf

 

Details of external assessment

Paper 1: Thematic study and historic environment (Paper codes: 1HI0/10–13) 

Medicine in Britain, c1250–present and The British sector of the Western Front, 1914–18: injuries, treatment and the trenches 
Written examination: 1 hour and 15 minutes 
30%* of the qualification 
52 marks (16 for the historic environment, 36 for the thematic study 
Assessment overview 
Section A: historic environment 
Students answer a question that assesses knowledge plus a two-part question based on two provided sources. 
Section B: thematic study 
Students answer three questions that assess their knowledge and understanding. The first two questions are compulsory. For the third question, students answer one from a choice of two 

Paper 2: Period study and British depth study (Paper codes: 1HI0/2A–2W) 

Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes 
40%* of the qualification 
64 marks (32 for the period study and 32 for the British depth study 
B2: The reigns of King Richard I and King John, 1189–1216 
P4: Superpower relations and the Cold War, 1941–91 
Assessment overview 
Booklet P Period study 
Students answer three questions that assess their knowledge and understanding. The first two questions are compulsory. For the third question, students select two out of three parts. 
Booklet B British depth study 
Students answer a single three-part question that assesses their knowledge and understanding. 
The first two parts are compulsory. For the third part, students select one from a choice of two. 

Paper 3: Modern depth study (Paper codes: 1HI0/30–33) 

Written examination: 1 hour and 20 minutes 
30%* of the qualification 
52 marks 
Option 31: Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918–39 
Assessment overview 
Section A 
Students answer a question based on a provided source and a question that assesses their knowledge and understanding. 
Section B 
Students answer a single four-part question, based on two provided sources and two provided interpretations 

Useful links & resources for KS4

Students have access to sharepoint where there are revision materials and past papers. 

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/history-2016.coursematerials.html#%2FfilterQuery=category:Pearson-UK:Category%2FExam-materials