Entry Requirements
Grade 5 in GCSE History
Exam Board
AQA
Why Choose History?
‘We are not makers of history. We are made by history’ - Martin Luther King Jnr
- Transferable skills
- History is relevant
- History is an investment in your future
- History encourages independence
- Studying History provides cultural awareness
- History allows us to learn from the past
There are plenty of extra-curricular opportunities with a trip to Belfast and Dublin, a possible trip to Russia and close links to the University of Liverpool.
What is Involved?
The Making of Modern Britain 1951-2007
In this module you will learn why British society is the way that it is today. From the creation of the welfare state, the Teddy Boys and rock ’n’ roll of the1950s, you’ll be transported through the scandals of the ‘swinging’ sixties and the turbulence of the striking seventies. The A-level course will propel you through the controversy of the 1980s with yuppies, rioters and 3 million unemployed, through to the ‘girl power’ and Britpop of the 1990s and right past the Iraq War to 2007 with the demise of Tony Blair.
Tsarist and Communist Russia, 1855 – 1964
In this module you will chart the transformation of Russia from autocratic rule by the Tsar, to the growth of revolutionary beliefs and the overthrow of the government. Key ideas of Marxism are important in founding the communist state after the Russian Revolutions of 1917 and the characters of Lenin and Stalin come to the fore. The show trials, the work camps (gulags), the Cold War and the cult of Joseph Stalin will fascinate you. This is the real life ‘Animal Farm’ and a regime that killed 20 million people.
Coursework
History coursework is worth 20% of the A-level and it requires an essay of 3,500 words on nationalism in Ireland. We start at the 1798 rebellion against the Protestant Ascendancy, inspired by the French and American revolutions, follow the 1800 Act of Union and its impact, and look at the nationalist movements inspired over the 19th and 20th century
Why Choose History?
‘We are not makers of history. We are made by history’ - Martin Luther King Jnr
- Transferable skills
- History is relevant
- History is an investment in your future
- History encourages independence
- Studying History provides cultural awareness
- History allows us to learn from the past
There are plenty of extra-curricular opportunities with a trip to Belfast and Dublin, a possible trip to Russia and close links to the University of Liverpool.
What is Involved?
The Making of Modern Britain 1951-2007
In this module you will learn why British society is the way that it is today. From the creation of the welfare state, the Teddy Boys and rock ’n’ roll of the1950s, you’ll be transported through the scandals of the ‘swinging’ sixties and the turbulence of the striking seventies. The A-level course will propel you through the controversy of the 1980s with yuppies, rioters and 3 million unemployed, through to the ‘girl power’ and Britpop of the 1990s and right past the Iraq War to 2007 with the demise of Tony Blair.
Tsarist and Communist Russia, 1855 – 1964
In this module you will chart the transformation of Russia from autocratic rule by the Tsar, to the growth of revolutionary beliefs and the overthrow of the government. Key ideas of Marxism are important in founding the communist state after the Russian Revolutions of 1917 and the characters of Lenin and Stalin come to the fore. The show trials, the work camps (gulags), the Cold War and the cult of Joseph Stalin will fascinate you. This is the real life ‘Animal Farm’ and a regime that killed 20 million people.
Coursework
History coursework is worth 20% of the A-level and it requires an essay of 3,500 words on nationalism in Ireland. We start at the 1798 rebellion against the Protestant Ascendancy, inspired by the French and American revolutions, follow the 1800 Act of Union and its impact, and look at the nationalist movements inspired over the 19th and 20th century.
examination results
of A-level students achieved grades A*-B
of A-level students achieved grades A*-C
of A-level students achieved grades A*-E
What we’ve been up to…
Northwest ESAA Track and Field
This week saw some of our Year 9 and 10 athletics’ stars head to the Northwest ESAA Track and Field Championships in Manchester. An extremely successful outing means they are now off to the National Finals in Essex. Well done girls we are very proud of you all.
Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Trial Expedition 2023
86 WKGS students spent the weekend in Wales completing their trial expedition for the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award. With such beautiful weather a good time was had by all learning essential skills for survival in the open air!
Spanish Exchange
The Spanish Department resumed 2019’s successful student exchange with our partner secondary school, IES Garcilaso de la Vega a mixed secondary school located in Torrelavega, a town in Cantabria in northern Spain: The Spanish Exchange presents students with a unique opportunity to improve their spoken Spanish and see Spanish daily life at first hand. Students from Calday Grammar School collaborated with us and students were accompanied by teaching staff from West Kirby Grammar School and Calday Grange Grammar School. The Spanish students hosted their English partners and a programme of events was organised during the school day for the visiting students. The students visited Santander, experienced a day at the Altamira Museum, an exact replica of the Altamira Caves with Palaeolithic cave paintings. They took part in a workshop in which they learned how to make and throw spears to hunt deer and bison. This was followed by a visit to Santillana del Mar. During their visit they also visited El Soplao, a site of great geographical importance, and the beautiful Santillana del Mar and the Parque Naturaleza de Carbaceno.
Year 12 North West Regional Forum European Youth Parliament at L
The North West European Forum 2023 is one of the fourteen regional EYP forums which take place in the UK, with many more taking place in other countries. There were a number of debates throughout the day. The forum gave students an opportunity to debate a range of topics affecting young people across Europe. Two schools were selected at this regional forum and to also send a team of eight students over the age of sixteen to either the Summer or Autumn National Selection Conference, held at Liverpool Hope University for a long weekend in July 2023. Big well done to both of our EYP teams who performed at a consistently high standard throughout the debates. Special congratulations to our 2nd team who made it through to the national finals in July!
With one more week to go, we are really looking forward to our first #WKGS PTA Quiz / Fish & Chips Night. Tickets are still available from: ticketsource.co.uk/west-kirby-gra… https://t.co/bsxLFRr7Ko
We are very proud of Mia, Grace, Peggy and Hannah (#WKGSY12) who have made the finals of the Samsung 'Solve for Tomorrow' competition. They have made the last 5 in their age group. We wish them the best of luck for their final pitch which takes place next month. https://t.co/LIrkB9eLik
We are very proud of Mia, Grace, Peggy and Hannah (#WKGSY12) who have made the finals of the Samsung 'Solve for Tomorrow' competition. They have made the last 5 in their age group. We wish them the best of luck for their final pitch which takes place next month. https://t.co/5OJXnqatwU
A photo stop on the Great Wall of China, July 2015 for this week's #ThrowbackThursday https://t.co/Wp4YLzTHlA
We are delighted to announce the release of the second episode of our WKGS Student Podcast. Episode 2 will be live on Friday 28th April and will feature local artist (and former #WKGS student) Michael Aldag. Subscribe to our Student Podcast now at: spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/ogLOQbBw7yb https://t.co/u2O0Brp90O
Congratulations to Mia (#WKGSY12) and her horse MS Mastro who competed in the National Schools Equestrian Association dressage at Kelsall Hill. Mia won her Novice class and has qualified for the National Championships at Hickstead in May. We wish Mia every success. https://t.co/qiK2vL2FmG
Congratulations to Mia (#WKGSY12) and her horse MS Mastro who competed in the National Schools Equestrian Association dressage at Kelsall Hill. Mia won her Novice class and has qualified for the National Championships at Hickstead in May. We wish Mia every success. https://t.co/r3ADJ8ZnP4
A walk to Hilbre Island with German Exchange partners (around 1994) for this week's #ThrowbackThursday https://t.co/dYjHAwt6TU
It's back to 2018 for this week's #ThrowbackThursday for a Student Fashion Show.... https://t.co/uiNwudPObr
Drama visit to Paris
Students from our GCSE Drama group visited Paris to see a theatre production and take part in a Drama workshop. They also had the fantastic opportunity to experience a guided backstage tour of the Opera Garnier, the inspiration for Phantom of the Oprea. The visit included a guided tour of Paris exploring the sights and shops; they saw a production of the Lion King – The Musical at Théâtre Mogador and enjoyed a day in Disneyland Paris.
Wishing our students and staff a happy Easter break. All year groups will return on Monday 17th April which will be a Week A. https://t.co/IbnomcGX4a