Filmed discussion featuring A Level history students (City and Islington College) talking about why they chose history at GCSE and A Level.

1. What got you into history?

2. What did you enjoy doing history?

3. How could history GCSE be improved?

4. What do you like about history at A Level?

5. Why did you choose A level history?

6. Careers in history

7. Studying history at university

8. Advice for A Level history students

9. What is your reposnse to the recent recent publication of a RHS report which highlights racial and ethnic inequalities in the teaching and practice of history in the UK?

Less than 1% of university academics are Black, according to the RHS’s report.

The report draws attention to the fact that while history remains a popular choice at GCSE and A-level, BAME students are less likely than their peers to choose history in examination or university applications. Underrepresentation at all levels is particularly apparent for Black students.

The Historical Association (HA) has been concerned about the engagement of Black and all BAME students with history at school for some time, and a Freedom of Information request made to the DfE by the Historical Association in 2016 only cemented these concerns. The response to this request indicated that of the students entered for history at A-Level only approximately 4% of students (in Year 13) were Black and 6% Asian, although the data was supplied with caveats around how such information was gathered.