Edexcel GCSE History Paper 1 2026 Predictions! 🏰

from medicine to migration

Author

Jen - Primrose Kitten
February 03, 2026

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Table of Contents

Option 10: Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000–present and Whitechapel, c1870–c1900: crime, policing and the inner city predictions

Historic Environment: Whitechapel, c1870–c1900: crime, policing and the inner city

Employment in Whitechapel 💼

Whitechapel in the late 19th century was a bustling, yet poverty-stricken area in East London. Employment opportunities were often scarce and precarious. Many residents worked in casual labour, such as dock work, matchbox making, or as street vendors. Work was often low-paid, irregular, and physically demanding, contributing to widespread poverty and desperation. Understanding the nature of employment helps explain the social conditions and challenges faced by the people living in Whitechapel.

Migration to Whitechapel in the late 19th century 🌍

Whitechapel was a melting pot of cultures due to significant migration in the late 19th century. Large numbers of Irish immigrants arrived seeking work, often after the Potato Famine, and many Jewish immigrants fled persecution in Eastern Europe (pogroms). These migrant groups often faced discrimination and lived in overcrowded, squalid conditions. Their arrival significantly impacted the social fabric of Whitechapel, leading to cultural diversity but also increasing competition for resources and sometimes social tensions.

The Whitechapel Vigilance Committee and the police investigation into the crimes of Jack the Ripper 🕵️‍♀️

The brutal murders attributed to Jack the Ripper in 1888 terrified Whitechapel and exposed the limitations of Victorian policing. The Whitechapel Vigilance Committee was formed by local businessmen who were frustrated with the police's apparent lack of progress. They offered rewards for information, challenged the police, and even hired their own private detectives. The police investigation itself involved house-to-house inquiries, interviews, and the use of bloodhounds, but ultimately, the killer was never caught, highlighting the challenges of forensic science and policing methods at the time.

Thematic Study: Crime and Punishment in Britain, c. 1000–present

Changing views on the purpose of punishment 🤔

Over time, the purpose of punishment has evolved considerably. Historically, punishment was often about retribution (getting revenge) and deterrence (stopping others from committing crimes). Public executions were common as a spectacle to scare potential offenders. In later periods, ideas of reformation (rehabilitating offenders) and protection (keeping society safe) gained prominence, leading to the development of prisons and more structured legal systems. Understanding these shifts helps us see how societal values have influenced justice.

Changes in law enforcement c1700-c1900 🚨

This period saw a dramatic transformation in how laws were enforced in Britain. At the beginning of the 18th century, law enforcement was largely unorganised, relying on parish constables and watchmen who were often ineffective. The industrial revolution and growing urban populations led to an increase in crime and a demand for more professional policing. This culminated in the establishment of the Metropolitan Police Force in 1829 by Sir Robert Peel, marking the beginning of modern, organised policing with a focus on prevention and detection. This era also saw the development of detective forces.

The reasons for the rise in witchcraft accusations c1500-c1700 🧙‍♀️

The period between 1500 and 1700, particularly during the English Civil War, saw a significant increase in witchcraft accusations and trials. Several factors contributed to this phenomenon. Religious changes, such as the Reformation, led to heightened religious anxieties and a belief in the active presence of the Devil. Social and economic upheavals, including poverty and disease, created scapegoats within communities. Misogyny also played a role, with many accused witches being older, poorer women. Figures like Matthew Hopkins, the 'Witchfinder General', capitalised on these fears.

The nature of criminal activity c1900-present 💸

The 20th and 21st centuries have witnessed a continual evolution in the nature of criminal activity. While traditional crimes like theft and violence persist, new forms of crime have emerged with technological advancements. Organised crime became more sophisticated, with drug trafficking and gang violence. The rise of computers and the internet led to cybercrime, including hacking, fraud, and identity theft. Terrorism also became a significant concern. This period also saw shifts in the types of petty crime and the impact of social change on criminal behaviour.

Option 11: Medicine in Britain & The British sector of the Western Front.

Historic Environment: The British sector of the Western Front, 1914–18

Features of Casualty Clearing Stations (CCS) on the Western Front 🏥

Casualty Clearing Stations were a critical link in the Chain of Evacuation. They were usually located near railway lines to allow for the rapid transport of soldiers to Base Hospitals.

New surgical techniques developed on the Western Front

The horrific nature of trench warfare injuries forced rapid medical innovation.

  • Carrel-Dakin Method: A system using a sterilised salt solution to flush out deep wounds and prevent infection (especially gas gangrene).

  • The Thomas Splint: This revolutionised the treatment of broken femurs (thigh bones). It kept the leg rigid, reducing blood loss and shock. It increased the survival rate for this injury from roughly 20% to 80%.

  • Brain Surgery: Harvey Cushing developed new techniques using magnets to remove metal fragments from the brain and used local anaesthetic to reduce brain swelling.

  • Plastic Surgery: Harold Gillies developed skin grafts and facial reconstruction techniques at the Queen’s Hospital in Sidcup for men with severe facial disfigurement.

How trench conditions led to ill health among soldiers ⛈️

The environment of the trenches was a major cause of sickness, separate from combat wounds.

  • Trench Foot: caused by standing in cold, waterlogged trenches. It led to gangrene and amputation. Prevention included whale oil and changing socks.

  • Trench Fever: A flu-like illness spread by lice. It affected half a million men on the Western Front. Delousing stations were set up to combat this.

  • Shell Shock: A psychological condition (now known as PTSD) caused by the trauma of bombardment. It was often misunderstood as cowardice.

Thematic Study: Medicine in Britain, c1250–present

Ideas about the cause of illness in the medieval and Renaissance periods 🔮

In the Medieval period (c1250–1500), the Church had a huge influence.

  • God and Sin: Illness was often seen as a punishment from God or a test of faith.

  • The Four Humours: Based on Galen and Hippocrates, this theory stated the body had four liquids (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, black bile). Illness was an imbalance of these.

  • Miasma: Bad air or smells were believed to cause disease.

  • Astrology: The alignment of planets was used to diagnose illness.

Moving into the Renaissance, these ideas largely continued, but there were small shifts. Thomas Sydenham (the 'English Hippocrates') began to move away from the Four Humours, emphasising observation of symptoms, though the miasma theory remained strong.

Changes in the prevention of illness in the years c1900-present 💉

This era marks a shift from simply reacting to disease to government-led prevention.

The work of William Harvey and developments in medicine c1500-c1700 ❤️

  • Circulation: He proved that blood flows in a one-way system and is pumped by the heart, challenging Galen's theory that blood was made in the liver and burned up by the body.

  • Impact: While his discovery was groundbreaking scientifically, it had little immediate impact on treatment because doctors didn't know why the blood circulated or how to use this knowledge to cure patients (until blood transfusions much later).

Improvements in care and treatment in the years c1700-c1900 🏥

This period includes the Industrial Revolution and huge strides in hospital care.

  • Florence Nightingale: Her work in the Crimea and back in Britain professionalised nursing. She emphasised sanitation, ventilation, and clean bedding, which drastically reduced death rates in hospitals.

  • Anaesthetics: James Simpson discovered the properties of Chloroform (1847), making surgery pain-free, though it initially increased death rates due to infection and shock (the 'Black Period' of surgery).

  • Antiseptics: Joseph Lister pioneered the use of Carbolic Acid to create a sterile environment, drastically reducing infection and death rates in surgery.

  • Hospital Design: Hospitals moved from places of rest for the poor to places of treatment and cure, with specialist hospitals opening (e.g., for children or infectious diseases).

Option 13: Migrants in Britain, c800–present and Notting Hill, c1948–c1970. 2026 Predictions

Historic Environment: Notting Hill, c1948–c1970

Policing in Notting Hill 👮‍♂️

The relationship between the police and the Caribbean community in Notting Hill was often fraught with tension during this period.

  • Lack of Trust: Many migrants felt the police failed to protect them from white violence, particularly from 'Teddy Boys' and groups like the White Defence League.

  • Harassment: There were frequent complaints that the police disproportionately targeted black residents for stop-and-search or minor offences.

  • The 1958 Riots: During the riots, many in the community felt the police were slow to respond to white mobs attacking black homes, leading to a belief that the community needed to organise its own defence.

  • Changes: By the late 1960s, there were some attempts to improve community relations, but tension remained high, notably around the Mangrove Restaurant later on.

The 'Colour Bar' in Notting Hill 🚫

The 'Colour Bar' refers to the unofficial discrimination and segregation faced by migrants in their daily lives.

  • Housing: This was the biggest issue. Landlords frequently refused to rent to black tenants, displaying signs like "No Coloureds, No Irish, No Dogs." This forced many into overcrowding and slum-like conditions, often exploited by slum landlords like Peter Rachman.

  • Employment: Despite being invited to rebuild Britain, many qualified Caribbean migrants (teachers, nurses, engineers) were denied professional jobs and forced to take low-paid, unskilled work in transport or factories.

  • Social Spaces: Pubs and clubs in the area sometimes refused entry to black customers, leading to the creation of safe spaces like shebeens (illegal drinking clubs) and Caribbean cafes.

Thematic Study: Migrants in Britain, c800–present

Reasons why migration to Britain increased 📈

Throughout history, various 'push' and 'pull' factors have driven migration numbers up.

  • Government Invitation: In the medieval period, William I invited Jews for finance. Post-WW2, the British government actively invited workers from the Commonwealth (e.g., the Windrush generation) to fill labour shortages.

  • Economic Opportunity: During the Industrial Revolution, Irish migrants came for work in navvying and factories. In the late 20th/early 21st century, EU expansion allowed for free movement of workers seeking better wages.

  • Sanctuary/Refugee Status: Britain has often been a destination for those fleeing persecution, such as the Huguenots (17th century), Jews fleeing pogroms (19th century), and refugees from wars in Syria or Ukraine (modern day).

  • Empire and War: The growth of the British Empire created links that facilitated migration (e.g., Lascars, Ayahs). World Wars brought people from the Empire to fight and work, many of whom stayed.

Impact made by migrants on the economy 💷

Migrants have consistently boosted the British economy across the centuries.

  • Medieval Finance: Jewish migrants provided essential loans for castle and cathedral building when Christians were forbidden from lending money.

  • Industry Skills: Flemish weavers (medieval) and Huguenots (early modern) revolutionised the textile industry, making English cloth the best in Europe. Huguenots also brought skills in clock-making and finance (Bank of England).

  • The Industrial Revolution: Irish 'navvies' built the canals, railways, and roads that powered Britain's industrial growth.

  • Post-War Reconstruction: Commonwealth migrants were crucial in staffing the newly formed NHS and keeping the transport systems (London Underground/Buses) running after WW2.

Impact of the Reformation on migration ⛪

The religious changes in Europe (c1500–c1700) were a massive driver of migration.

  • Protestant Refugees: As Europe split into Catholic and Protestant areas, Britain became a safe haven for Protestants fleeing persecution in Catholic countries.

  • The Walloons & Huguenots: Thousands of Walloons (from the Netherlands/Belgium) and French Huguenots arrived. They were generally welcomed by the government because they were fellow Protestants ('brethren') and brought valuable skills, though they sometimes faced local hostility due to job competition.

  • Palatines: Later, German Protestants (Palatines) arrived, though they were less welcomed as they were poorer and unskilled, showing how religion wasn't the only factor in acceptance.

Exam Structure and Breakdown 📝

Here’s a quick overview of what to expect:

  • Section A: Thematic Study

    • This section will have three questions, totalling 32 marks.

    • You'll typically find a source-based question, an explanation question, and a longer essay-style question asking you to evaluate or assess something over a period of time.

    • Top Tip: For the essay question, ensure you cover a good breadth of time and offer a balanced argument with supporting evidence.

  • Section B: Historic Environment

    • This section will also have three questions, totalling 32 marks.

    • You'll likely encounter a question asking you to describe or explain aspects of the historic environment, a question about the significance or utility of a source, and a longer essay-style question requiring you to analyse or evaluate an aspect.

    • Top Tip: Remember to use specific historical details to support your points in this section.

The total time for the exam is 1 hour and 15 minutes. Make sure you manage your time effectively, dedicating roughly equal time to both sections. Practice essay writing under timed conditions to get a feel for it! ⏱️

Your Next Steps to Success! 🎉

Feeling a bit more confident about your Edexcel GCSE History Paper 1? We hope so! Now it's time to put these predictions into action.

  • Download our Predicted Papers: Get your hands on our expertly crafted predicted papers for Edexcel GCSE History Paper 1! These are designed to mimic the real exam and help you practice the types of questions you might face.

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You've got this! Keep calm, keep revising, and remember to look after yourselves. We believe in you! ❤️ Good luck! 🍀