A level History
at Ferndown Upper School, Ferndown · school or sixth form
What the college says
A level History:History is often likened to a detective story; an attempt to understand and explain what happened in the past. There is a large part of the study of history that is exactly that; the search for the motivations and reasons for the actions of people in the past. When did Hitler order the deaths of millions of Jews in the Holocaust? Why did a revolution in Russia in 1917, promising power, food and land to the people, end up producing one of the most ruthless dictators of all? However, history is also a subject in which you have to feel empathy for people in the past. It’s not just the great events of time, but also the thoughts and feelings of people who have gone before us, from 13 year-old soldiers in the Trenches to leaders of nations. History is also the search for some structure to our present, by understanding what went before us, we can make more sense of the present – why the world works the way it does, why one country has power but another does not. It also helps us understand our more personal origins, as products of our times. It is true that History is a written subject, and students of history will find their writing skills developing so that they can present a sensible and coherent argument, both in debate and on paper
What you need to get on
5 GCSE Passes Grades 4-9 inc English and Maths with a 5 in History (if taken) or a 5 in English.
How you are assessed
Academic subjects, mostly exams, three or four at once. The traditional route to university.
What this level means
The A-level-equivalent step, and what universities and employers ask for.
Is it open to 16 to 18 year olds?
Approved for 16 to 18 study on the government's Section 96 list.
Where it runs
Ferndown Upper School
Cherry Grove, Ferndown, BH22 9EY
DaytimeClassroom basedCheck the journey
Start dates
- 1 September 2026 · Ferndown
Who else teaches this exact qualification
Same qualification, different college. Entry requirements and how it is taught can differ a lot between them, which is the whole reason to compare.
- Their version
St Thomas More Catholic School, Willenhall
Bilston · West Midlands · 2 years
- Their version
Ilford · London · 2 years
- Their version
North East · 2 years
- Their version
Liverpool · North West · 22 months
- Their version
Liverpool · North West · 2 years
- Their version
Northampton · East Midlands · 2 years
- Their version
Colyton · South West · 2 years
- Their version
E-Act North Birmingham Academy
Birmingham · West Midlands · 2 years