Maximising Student Achievement in Edexcel GCSE History

Course Code: T0355 £249.00

ABOUT THIS COURSE

This brand-new practical and insight-driven course is designed to help history teachers confidently guide their students to success at both Grades 4-5 and 8-9 in Pearson Edexcel GCSE History. Led by experienced examiner Malcolm Chandler, the course will provide clear, accessible strategies for understanding mark schemes, refining exam technique, and improving extended writing and source analysis. You will leave with practical classroom-ready materials, targeted revision exercises, and proven techniques to help students achieve their full potential.

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING

  • The course will look in detail at the papers and markschemes to identify implications for teachers and students
  • Analysis of mark schemes will be used to develop profiles for levels in the mark schemes and for Grades 4-5 and 8-9
  • Materials will be provided with student-friendly terminology and exercises for revision and answers at Grades 4-5 and 8-9
  • Techniques for developing extended writing, tackling source-based questions and interpretations will be provided

PROGRAMME

10.00am: Getting the basics right
  • Understanding the Edexcel mark scheme: statistical insights, grade profiles, and level descriptors.
  • Making assessment criteria student-friendly and engaging students in the process.
  • Developing key GCSE skills from Years 7-11, including source analysis and interpretation.
  • Using sources effectively to build contextual knowledge, chronology, and exam technique.
11.15am: Break
11.35am: Developing written answers to ‘own knowledge’ questions
  • Focus on Paper 2: Normans, Henry VIII, Elizabeth, American West, and Superpowers (materials available for other units).
  • Structuring answers effectively using Levels of Response and templates.
  • Practical class exercises, revision strategies, and content-focused techniques.
  • Examiner insights, tips for high-scoring answers, and using specimen scripts.
12.30pm: Lunch
1.30pm: Tackling Source and Interpretation Questions
  • Focus on Crime, Medicine, Migrants, Germany, and the USA (materials available for other units).
  • Effective techniques for tackling source-based and interpretation questions.
  • Structured answer templates and strategies for handling content.
  • Examiner tips and insights using specimen scripts.
2.15pm: Break
2.25pm: The Thematic Study
  • Focus on Crime, Medicine, and Migrants, addressing the issues of content and the wider context.
  • Helping students make connections across the Thematic Study.
  • Effective revision strategies and techniques for tackling ‘factor’ questions.
  • Examiner insights and use of specimen scripts.
  3.00pm: Depart
GCSE - Code: T0355

Maximising Student Achievement in Edexcel GCSE History

COURSE LEADER

Malcolm Chandler was Chief Examiner for GCSE History for twenty years and has been leading courses for teachers and students since 1998, throughout England and Wales, but also in Europe and Dubai. He aims to simplify the demands of GCSE History for both teachers and students by avoiding ‘jargon’ and using straightforward terminology. He believes that the best way of teaching history and improving results is to set clear, manageable targets for students and to enable them to feel ‘part of the process’. Many schools that have adopted the approaches and techniques that he recommends have seen significant improvements in examination grades in relatively short spaces of time.

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Course Brochure