Humanities

GEOGRAPHY

At Ludlow School we follow the OCR 'A' syllabus this course follows four important themes:

• Extreme Environments
• Global Citizenship
• Contrasting Places
• Changing World

GCSE Geography is offered at two levels: Higher (A* - D) and Foundation (C – G). Both cover the same content and both require the completion of two controlled assessments. Doing GCSE Geography means completing work both inside and outside the classroom. Fieldwork is integral to the completion of coursework and the understanding of the main themes. In recent years visits have been made to a Mid-Wales wind farm, Birmingham Airport, Birmingham CBD and the Brecon Beacons National Park.

The final grade in GCSE Geography is based on five components:

• 3 modular exams worth 25% each, one taken in Year 10.
• 2 controlled assessments, one an investigative piece of writing based on first-hand data collection relating to a topical issue e.g. has the Bull Ring shopping redevelopment been a success? The other a study e.g. How consumer decisions may have a positive or negative impact on people.

Our aim is to equip young people with all the necessary skills and knowledge they require to understand and challenge modern day environmental, social and economic issues.

Geographers are very employable people because they tend to be adaptable and dynamic. Do you fit this description?

Further information from Mr. S. Smith

HISTORY

This composes of four separate modules, each worth 25% of GCSE.

Representations of History – Crime, policing and punishment in England c1880–c1990

This Controlled Assessment task gives you an opportunity to undertake a personal enquiry and study how representations of the past are constructed. The big questions may include:

• How did approaches to punishment change c1880–1990?
• How did policing, law and order develop in the twentieth century?
• How has the nature of crime changed?
• Was Victorian policing effective c1880-1901?
• Internal Examinations: 2 hours 30 minutes

Modern World Source Enquiry – War and the transformation of British society c1931-51

This unit gives you a chance to conduct a source based enquiry within a key context of modern world history. The big questions are:

• What impact did the Depression have on Britain?
• How did Britain keep fighting?
• What impact did the war have on British lives?
• How did post-war Britain change?
• Examinations: 1 hour 15 minutes

Modern World Depth Study – Germany 1918 – 39

This module gives you an opportunity to study in depth a key aspect of modern world history. The big questions are:

• Was the Weimar Republic doomed to fail?
• How did Hitler come to power in Germany?
• How effectively did the Nazis control Germany?
• What was it like to live in Nazi Germany?
• Examinations: 1 hour

An Outline Study – Peace and War: International Relations

This unit gives you an overview of key developments in international relations from 1945 to 1991. The big questions are:

• How did the Cold War develop 1943-56
• How close did the world come to a nuclear war?
• Why did the cold war end?
• Examination: 1 hour and 15 minutes

Further information from Mr S Benbow

RE

We follow an AQA Religious Studies (B) Religion and Life Issues course. This GCSE enables students to study religious, moral and ethical issues. This will help them to develop items on critical thinking skills.

Students will study the following topics:

• Religion and Animal Rights
• Religion and Planet Earth
• Religion and Prejudice
• Religion and Early Life
• Religion, War and Peace
• Religion and Young People

Assessment:

One 90 minute written examination where students have to complete 4 topic questions.

Full Course

Students follow the above syllabus for one paper. They also study Religion and Morality, and for a second paper they cover the following topics:

• Religious attitudes to matters of life (medical ethics).
• Religious attitudes to drug abuse.
• Religious attitudes to the elderly and death.
• Religious attitudes to crime and punishment.
• Religious attitudes to rich and poor in British society.
• Religious attitudes to World poverty.

Assessment:

Students complete two 90 minute examination papers. They complete 4 topic questions on each paper.

Further information from Mr. J. Hodson

CITIZENSHIP

From September 2002 Citizenship became a statutory foundation subject at both Key Stage 3 and 4. At Key Stage 4 the course has replaced the old GCSE Humanities syllabus and the five cross-curricular theme documents of:

• Citizenship
• Health Education
• Careers Education
• Education for Sustainable Development
• Personal Finance Awareness

In September 2009 the school started a new specification with AQA. The course aims to help pupils attain the knowledge, skills and understanding needed in order to play an effective roll in an adult society at local, regional, national, and global levels. It will enable all students to become informed, thoughtful and responsible citizens aware of their duties and their rights.

The course followed will cover grades A* - G and the examination paper (1 hour) is worth 40% of the final mark and a controlled assessment involving Active Citizenship – Advocacy and Representation is worth 60% of the final mark.

For information from Mr. M. Weaver