Our course develops a coherent and balanced understanding of Scottish, British, European and world history. Through examining people, places, events, societies and cultures of the past, we can better understand our own communities, our country and the wider world.
Studying History at either level develops a variety of transferrable skills which you can use in wider life and future work. These include, but are in no way limited to:
- Organisation
- Notetaking
- Research
- Independent Learning
- Describing
- Explaining
- Comparing
- Analysing
- Evaluating
- Concluding
Where can History take you?
The study of History and the development of the skills listed above open a wide variety of career choices to you, including those in the fields of:
- Law, e.g. Barrister, police officer, magistrate, solicitor.
- Publishing and media, e.g. Editor, journalist, project manager.
- Education, e.g. History teacher, private tutor, university lecturer, bursar, librarian, library technician.
- Research, e.g., Genealogist, social researcher, TV researcher, archaeologist, politician assistant, archivist, records manager, records assistant.
- Public sector, e.g. Member of Parliament, civil servant, policy officer, social worker.
- Consultancy, e.g. Management consultant, data analyst, IT consultant, business consultant.
- Development, e.g. Development economist, international aid worker, government policy advisor.
- Travel and tourism, e.g. tour guide, travel consultant, tourism officer, travel journalist, hotel manager, museum researcher.
- Museums, e.g. Collections manager, art gallery curator, museum attendant, exhibitions officer, education officer.
- Conservation, e.g. Conservation technician, furniture restorer, antique dealer, stone mason, and conservator.
- Cultural heritage, e.g. Visitor services manager, charity fundraiser, heritage consultant, galleries assistant.
Topics covered at National 4/5 levels in History are:
Migration & Empire
- Experience of immigrants to Scotland
- Experience of Scots abroad
- Impact of Scots on the Empire
- Impact of Empire on Scotland
Atlantic Slave Trade
- Impact on Africa
- Slave Experience
- Life on Plantations
- Impact on Britain
Free at Last? Civil Rights in the USA, 1918-1968
- Immigration to America
- ‘Jim Crow’ and white terror.
- Civil Rights Campaigns.
- Black American Radicalism.
Below you can get an idea of how your learning is assessed in History.
We build in skills from S1 so that by S4 you are more confident in your ability.
- N4: continual assessment throughout the year and Added Value Unit (AVU)
- N5: assignment (written under exam conditions) and final exam
EXAM QUESTION TYPES
Knowledge Questions
- Describe (4 marks)
- Explain (6 marks)
- 9 mark question’ (To what extent…?/How important…?/How successful…?) (9 marks)
Source Questions
- Evaluate the usefulness (5 marks)
- Comparison (4 marks)
- How fully (6 marks)
Topics covered at Higher level in History are:
Migration & Empire
- Experience of immigrants to Scotland
- Experience of Scots abroad
- Impact of Scots on the Empire
- Impact of Empire on Scotland
Britain and Ireland, 1900-1985
- Reasons for growth of tension in Ireland, to 1914
- Impact of WWI on Ireland
- Obstacles to peace – Anglo-Irish Treaty, 1918-21
- Reasons for outbreak of Irish Civil War.
- Reasons for developing crisis in Northern Ireland by 1968
USA, 1918-1968
- Changing attitudes towards immigration to America
- Economic crisis, 1929-33
- Obstacles to Civil Rights Campaigns
- Growth of Civil Rights campaigns
- Success of Civil Rights campaigns
Below you can get an idea of how your learning is assessed in Higher History.
We continue to build on skills learned from S1 and practiced throughout your National 4/5 so that by the time you experience Higher level, you are more than confident in your ability.
HIGHER: assignment (written under exam conditions) and final exam.
EXAM QUESTIONS
- Paper 1, 2 essays (44 marks):
- 1 on Section 1: Britain, 1851-1951 (22 marks)
- 1 on Section 3: USA, 1918-68 (22 marks)
- Paper 2, 4 questions (36 marks):
- 1 Explain (8 marks)
- 1 How Fully (10 marks)
- 1 Evaluate the Usefulness (8 marks)
- 1 “How Much” (10 marks)
Paper 2 will assess your Scottish topic – Migration and Empire, 1830-1939