A Week in the Life of a History Tutor: Exploring Britain, Germany, and German Foreign Policy

Another busy week of tutoring has flown by, filled with fascinating discussions on Britain’s transformation, Germany’s turbulent years, and the complexities of foreign policy. Here’s a glimpse into the topics my students and I tackled, spanning AQA and Edexcel GCSE and A-Level History.

AQA 2M: Wars and Welfare: Britain in Transition, 1906–1957

This week, my students explored the significant social and political changes that shaped Britain in the early 20th century.

We delved into:

The Liberal Reforms (1906–1914): How policies such as old-age pensions and free school meals marked the beginning of the welfare state.
The Impact of Two World Wars: How Britain’s experiences in war led to greater state intervention and, ultimately, the establishment of the NHS in 1948.
The Rise of the Labour Party: Understanding how and why Labour replaced the Liberals as the main opposition to the Conservatives by the mid-20th century.

Students were particularly engaged in discussing the extent to which war accelerated social change, with some strong arguments about whether the state’s role in welfare was inevitable or reactionary.

AQA 2O: Democracy and Nazism: Germany, 1918–1933

In our sessions on Germany’s interwar years, we focused on:

The Challenges of the Weimar Republic: Hyperinflation, the Ruhr Crisis, and political extremism.
Stresemann’s Recovery (1924–1929): How the Dawes Plan and international diplomacy stabilized Germany—at least temporarily.
The Rise of the Nazis: Examining how economic collapse and political instability allowed Hitler to gain power by 1933.

We had a particularly engaging debate on whether the Weimar Republic was doomed from the start or if its downfall was primarily due to the Great Depression.

Edexcel GCSE: Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918–1939

My GCSE students focused on key exam skills and thematic understanding, covering:

The Treaty of Versailles and Its Impact on Germany: How resentment over the treaty contributed to instability.
The Nazi Police State: The role of propaganda, the SS, and the Gestapo in controlling German society.
Life in Nazi Germany: Analysing how different groups experienced Nazi rule, from women and workers to Jewish communities.

We spent time working on 12-mark explain questions, refining students' ability to structure their responses clearly and effectively.

Coursework Marking: German Foreign Policy, 1862–1945

A large part of my week was dedicated to marking coursework on continuity and change in German foreign policy from Bismarck to Hitler. Key themes that emerged included:

Bismarck’s Realpolitik vs. Wilhelm II’s Weltpolitik – A shift from careful diplomacy to aggressive expansionism.
The Role of War – From the unification wars of the 1860s to total war under Hitler.
Ideology’s Influence – How Hitler’s racial policies marked a departure from previous German strategies.

It was great to see students engaging critically with historical debates and using primary sources effectively.

Final Thoughts

Each week brings fresh perspectives, lively discussions, and valuable progress for my students. Whether it’s preparing for exams, refining arguments in coursework, or making complex topics accessible, I love seeing history come alive in my sessions.

If you’re looking for support in GCSE or A-Level History, check out my tutoring services at www.historywithhayley.com!

Until next time, happy studying!