Teaching Migration at GCSE level

As you know, Migration is a new optional topic for the linear GCSE starting in September 2016.  With OCR the option appears in both of its specifications, though the time frame varies slightly.  For OCR this part of the course carries 20% of the marks and is examined by a 105 minute written paper.

The chronological arc of the study spans over 750 years (from 1250 to the present) with the ‘SHP’ variant and over 950 years with their Explaining the Modern World.

The OCR specification divides the whole topic into four smaller periods, the ones you will be familiar with from KS3 history: Medieval, Early Modern, Industrial and 20th century.

Additionally, there are two other dimensions apart from the chronological study: issues and factors.

In terms of issues, these are: a. the reasons why people migrated; b. the experiences of migrants to Britain; c. the impact of migrants to Britain

The five pervading factors are: 1. Britain’s connections with the wider world;  2. Beliefs, attitudes and values;  3. Government;  4. Economic factors;  5. Communications.