United Kingdom · National Curriculum Attainment Targets
Year 11 History
Key Stage 4 GCSE History Year 11: a comprehensive study of Weimar and Nazi Germany, the Cold War, and Elizabethan England, focusing on depth studies, thematic changes, and rigorous exam preparation.
The Weimar Republic 1918–1929
The challenges faced by the new German democracy following the First World War and its brief period of stability.
Analysing the impact of the Treaty of Versailles and the 'stab in the back' myth on German politics.
Investigating the Ruhr occupation, hyperinflation, and the Munich Putsch.
Evaluating the recovery of Germany through the Rentenmark, Dawes Plan, and Locarno Pact.
Exploring the flourishing of art, architecture, and cinema in the 1920s.
The Rise of the Nazis 1929–1933
How the Great Depression and political intrigue led to Hitler's appointment as Chancellor.
The economic collapse following the Wall Street Crash and its political fallout.
The role of Joseph Goebbels and the Brownshirts in winning hearts and minds.
The manoeuvres involving Hindenburg, von Papen, and von Schleicher.
The rapid dismantling of democracy in early 1933.
The purge of Ernst Röhm and the SA to secure the loyalty of the Army.
Life in Nazi Germany 1933–1939
Social, economic, and racial policies under the Third Reich.
The roles of the SS, Gestapo, and the SD in maintaining terror.
The role of the Hitler Youth and the League of German Girls.
The RAD, DAF, and the "Strength through Joy" (KdF) schemes.
The Concordat with the Pope and the creation of the Reich Church.
The Nuremberg Laws and the escalation of anti-semitism up to Kristallnacht.
Cold War Conflict 1945–1991
The global struggle between the USA and the USSR, from the end of WWII to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Conferences at Yalta and Potsdam and the breakdown of the Grand Alliance.
The first major flashpoint of the Cold War in divided Germany.
Thirteen days on the brink of nuclear war in October 1962.
The struggle of a superpower against guerrilla tactics in Southeast Asia.
The easing of tensions in the 1970s and the eventual collapse of the USSR.
The "Soviet Vietnam" and its role in the end of Détente.
The personal diplomacy that helped end the nuclear arms race.
The role of trade unions and the Catholic Church in challenging Soviet control.
Elizabethan England 1558–1603
A depth study of the Virgin Queen's reign, focusing on religion, plots, and exploration.
The Elizabethan "Middle Way" and the challenges from Puritans and Catholics.
The threat posed by a Catholic claimant to the throne.
The causes, events, and consequences of the attempted invasion by Spain in 1588.
Exploring the world of Shakespeare, theatre, and the lives of the poor.
The exploits of Drake, Raleigh, and the beginnings of the British Empire.
The decline of Elizabeth's power in her final years.
Health and the People c.1000 to Present
A thematic study of medicine through time, examining surgery, public health, and disease.
The role of the Church, the Four Humours, and the Black Death.
Vesalius, Harvey, and Pare: Challenging the ancients.
Pasteur, Koch, and the battle against urban disease.
The development of anaesthetics and antiseptics by Simpson and Lister.
Penicillin, the Welfare State, and the DNA revolution.
The professionalisation of nursing and hospital reform.
The Liberal Reforms and the impact of the Boer War.
Migration, Empires and the People
Thematic study of how people have moved to and from Britain and the impact of Empire.
Early migrations and the shaping of the English identity.
The growth of the first and second British Empires.
Britain's involvement in the trade and the movement for abolition.
Post-WWII migration from the Commonwealth and its impact.
The impact of religious and political refugees on British industry.
Imperial expansion in the late 19th century and the Boer War.
GCSE Revision and Exam Mastery
Synthesising knowledge across all units and perfecting exam technique.
Techniques for evaluating sources in the context of their time and provenance.
Connecting themes across 1,000 years of history for the breadth study.
Understanding why historians reach different conclusions about the past.
Developing the "PEEL" and "SPICED" structures for high-level marks.
Focusing on the specific site study for the current exam year.
Simulating exam conditions to build stamina and time management.
Finding connections between Germany, the Cold War, and Elizabethan England.
Last-minute consolidation of key dates, people, and events.
Refining the ability to use evidence to support a historical inquiry.
Preparing mentally for the GCSE period and finalising study habits.