History

Subject Leader - Mrs S. Baynham

Curriculum Intent

Our History curriculum is designed with the intent that all children will become a competent historian, inquisitive about events that have happened in the past. We intend to inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. We aim to equip pupils with knowledge about significant people from the past, events from the past and chronological awareness through vocabulary and events. As pupils progress, their growing knowledge about events throughout History will help them to deepen their understanding of events beyond living memory that are significant nationally or globally and will secure their knowledge chronologically. It is important to us that children develop historical skills including, identifying connections, contrasts and trends over time and develop the appropriate use of historical terms. This will lead to them being able to devise historically valid questions about change, cause, similarity and difference, and significance, knowing which sources to use to find the answers. It is our goal that children will develop a love for History as a result of the learning experiences they’re provided with in the classroom and by engaging in outside agencies who come in to complete workshops with each year group.

Implementation

To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in History, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school. We ensure that History has the same importance given to it as the core subjects, as we feel this is important in enabling all children to gain ‘real-life’ experiences.

History is taught as part of a half-termly or termly topic, focusing on knowledge and skills stated in the National Curriculum. Year group staff plan sequences of lessons using our curriculum coverage and progression of knowledge and skills documents. These ensure full coverage of the National Curriculum objectives and a logical progression in the knowledge and skills taught year upon year. They also allow teachers to re-visit knowledge and skills taught in previous year groups to assess children’s understanding before moving on.

Some children may require extra support in the classroom and opportunities for consolidation and reinforcement. Activities within History lessons will be differentiated to meet the needs of all pupils. Children’s deeper thinking will be evaluated using open-ended questions and they will be encouraged to follow lines of thought independently.

Impact

Our History curriculum is designed to ensure that pupils’ historical knowledge and skills are embedded throughout their time at our school. The progression of knowledge and skills document provides clear expectations for pupils at each stage of their learning, which enables teachers to provide appropriate learning opportunities at the correct stage in their journey through our school.

The impact of our History curriculum will be measured through teacher assessment, school leader monitoring and subject leader monitoring. Outcomes in History books will evidence a broad and balanced curriculum that demonstrates the children’s key skills and knowledge.

Teachers will assess children’s learning at the beginning and throughout each History lesson through questioning and discussion, they will also recap on prior learning at the beginning of each lesson. Following the lesson, teachers will informally assess children’s understanding during marking of books, providing verbal or written feedback individually or as a group/class. Teachers will use these assessments to inform and adapt their planning of further History knowledge and skills and to address any misconceptions.

Children’s attainment will be considered and recorded termly to identify whether they are working below, at or above the expected level. Teachers will use a range of sources such History books, questioning, marking and planning when making these judgements. There will also be opportunities for moderation sessions across the school and the Trust to ensure accuracy of these judgements. At the end of each academic year, these assessments will be passed on to the following year group’s staff to ensure that future planning of learning opportunities is pitched appropriately.

As children progress throughout the school, they will deepen their understanding of significant people in History, their chronological awareness and different periods in History and a local study in our area. Children will be equipped with historical skills and knowledge that will enable them to be ready secondary education, for life as an adult in the wider world and for a range of future careers involving History. 