Intent
We believe that History is integral to children’s understanding of the world in which we live and exist. History impacts upon our daily lives and experiences and society has been shaped by significant events and people of the past. It is important for children to understand cultural, national and international history as a way of creating a shared identity and interconnections. Through teaching History, our school aims to equip our children to use critical thinking and creativity to understand the way that the world is always changing. We seek to explore the past through a conceptual lens which will enable children to understand more of their past and hence, become citizens of the future. We aim to provide our students with a rigorous history curriculum that instils them with the key skills and knowledge to gain an in depth and critical understanding of the past. Our History curriculum is purposefully constructed to allow children to make links between topics and have a good chronology awareness of the past curriculum and aims to develop historical skills and concepts which are transferable to whatever period of history is being studied and will equip children for future learning. We want our students to leave primary school with enquiring minds that have a thirst for learning about the past and analyse it with a critical and open mind.
Implementation
Across the whole school curriculum, children study the key historical concepts of chronology; significance; change and continuity; cause/consequence and interpretation. Within each unit learning is based around three key enquiry questions, the units are taught within the historical contexts outlined within the National Curriculum and planned across a two-year rolling programme. The school focuses on developing the skills necessary for children to be able to engage with the social, political and economic changes of the world around us. The subject of history begins in the EYFS as it is incorporated in everyday learning. The historical aspects of the children’s work relate to the objectives set out in the early learning goals (ELGs). In KS1, the children will begin by learning changes within living memory to enable an understanding of the ever-changing development of history. They will also look at significant local history in order to understand how their homes and lives have been affected by people and events, giving them a regional identity. They will start to look at history on a global scale by looking at significant people and events from the past. In KS2, children will begin to study specific periods of time in chronological order. Children will continue to develop the concepts of historical enquiry by beginning to differentiate between primary and secondary sources and make independent evaluations of historical events. They will be able to build up an understanding of chronology from ancient to modern history.
Impact
Our historical study enables children to understand historical concepts and vocabulary and have an understanding of the events and people that have shaped the world that we live in today. Our children develop an overview of the past and the ability to analyse it with a critical mind. Our class work shows how our enquiry-based approach gives real purpose and focus to each topic; each lesson planned carefully to address our overall questions. Children will be able to make links to previously studied topics and make comparisons. Children will be enthused by their History topics, they will be immersed in the period; creating intrigue and enjoyment. Children will be expected to leave primary school reaching at least age-related expectations for History.