At BIRS we want students not only to develop a deep and meaningful understanding of the past, but also to help them to better understand the world in which we live today. We cannot possibly understand the world around us without understanding what has come before.
We want our students to examine and interpret a range of historical sources. We want them to be active, questioning, critical thinkers who can explore the past from different perspectives, so they are able to develop their own unique historical interpretations. Through these second order concepts, we hope that our students will gain skills of empathy and analysis that will benefit them long after their studies with us have concluded.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” George Santayana.
We live in an ever-changing world where powerful leaders hold the fate of millions of people in the palm of their hands. As we watch the news and question the atrocities that take place around the globe, we cannot begin to understand them without understanding past events.
History provides us with a unique opportunity to learn from the previous mistakes of mankind. How might the world have been different had it not been for colonialism? How might mankind have grown together if it had taken onboard the teachings of Ghandi? How can we translate these past mistakes into our current world and make it a fairer place?
At GCSE we focus on four fascinating topics which will help students to ask challenging questions about the past, develop their own interpretations, and better understand the world around them. In their study of apartheid in South Africa and the nationalist challenge in India they will learn what can be achieved if we stand up against oppression. In their study of WW1, they will learn about the perils of colonialism. In their study of conflict in the Middle East they will gain an invaluable understanding and make their own judgements about the root causes of the images they see on their television screens today.
During the course students will:
The iGCSE course is assessed at the end of Year 11 through the means of two papers. Both are 1 hour and 30 minutes long and both are worth 50% of the overall iGCSE grade.
Paper 1 consists of two “depth studies”. The periods covered are South Africa from union to the end of apartheid 1948-1994 and colonial rule and the nationalist challenge in India 1919-1947.
Paper 2 consists of a “historical investigation” into the origins and course of World War 1 and a “breadth study” in change exploring conflict, crisis and change in The Middle East from 1917 – 2009.
